Michigan City High School (MCHS) conducted a ceremony on Veterans Day, November 11th, to honor all veterans. The participants in the ceremony were the high school band, choir and Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (MCJROTC). The guest speaker was Indiana State Representative Pat Boy. Many veterans from the community attended the event along with MCHS students and staff. The ceremony was a modified military parade. It included the march on of the troops, a demonstration of armed exhibition drill, the playing of the Armed Forces medley, the playing of taps, and the marching units executing pass in review.
“Since only 1 percent of our population now serves in the military, I think it is important that our students realize the significance of those who have served our nation,” said Senior Marine Instructor Major Tom McGrath. “Our Band Director, Frank Gast, and our Choir Director, Michelle Howisen, really had their students ready to provide a great performance for our students and veterans.”
Master Sergeant Jeff Benak, the Marine Instructor, complimented all of the students who participated in the ceremony. “We really have some talented students here at MCHS, and they displayed those talents in a very dignified ceremony today.”
The MCHS students will continue to use those talents as MCHS host its Fall Musical the weekend of Nov 15-17 under the direction of Charles Puetzer. Many of the same students who participated in the Veterans Day ceremony will be performing in the musical. The MCJROTC will be competing on Saturday, November 16th, at Benito Juarez High School in Chicago in a military drill competition.