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www.newbuffalotimes.com
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2021
Students pay their respects to those who served at Veterans Day ceremony
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BY FRANCESCA SAGALA
tudents at New Buffalo Middle/High School paid their annual respects to those who served their country at the school’s Veteran’s Day ceremony in the Performing Arts Center Thursday, Nov. 11. The ceremony included a presentation by the New Buffalo American Legion Post 169 Color Guard, the playing of patriotic songs by the high school band, the playing of “Taps” on the trumpet by middle school principal Bradley Brunner and a speech from keynote speaker Dr. Lee Strohl, MD, United States Army, Medical Corps. Middle school students were presented with certificates as this year’s Patriot Pen Essay contest winners. High school students were presented with certificates as this year’s Voice of Democracy essay contest winners. Later that afternoon, New Buffalo Middle School ‘s SADD students (Students against Destructive Decisions) unveiled the renovated a Peace Pole that was gifted to the school district in 1996. The peace pole (which was started in Japan in 1955) is a monument that displays the message “May peace prevail” in the language of the country where it’s been placed and it’s usually three to 13 additional
translations. The message, middle school teacher Jennifer Bauer said, is referred to as the “peace pledge.” When the Berrien County Coalition Against Violence gifted the peace pole to the district in 1996, SADD students held a ceremony for the community and placed items in a time capsule they buried under the pole that contained a key to the city, a city councilman’s badge (to represent community), a feather from the beach (to represent nature), and a peace pledge with the signatures of middle and high school students. In 2001, the peace pole and capsule were moved to the new building, where another ceremony was held.
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n 2020, the peace pole was unearthed when the new fence was put in near the cafeteria. Students created a new pole out of plastic that could be slipped over the old one as “the years had faded the messages,” Bauer said. Bauer said students had spent two years creating the design and painting the new pole, which was planted out in front of the middle school soon after the ceremony. “It contains messages of peace that will serve as a reminder to all of us as we enter the building every day,” she said.
SADD students recite the Peace Pledge
Members of the New Buffalo American Legion Post 169 Color Guard stand near the stage
Dr. Lee Strohl speaks during the ceremony
Students wave American flags in the air during the Veterans Day ceremony
Bradley Brunner plays taps on his trumpet
Winners of the Patriot Pen and Voice of Democracy Essay contests
The new Peace Pole is unveiled
The high school band performs during the ceremony
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