Governor visits Rozet for 14th annual Veterans Day ceremony

Students manned their stations Friday, as guests came rolling into Rozet Elementary School.

Doors were opened. Greetings were given. Seats were offered.

The Veterans Day celebration now runs like a well-oiled machine thanks to the efforts of everyone from paraprofessionals to office staff, teachers and students. Now in its 14^th year, it’s one of two veterans’ celebrations the school hosts each school year, honoring those who’ve given themselves so freely to protect the United States.

“I know a lot of the veterans coming out here, they have become an extended family for us,” said Emily Driskill, a fourth-grade teacher at the school and event coordinator. “The students have such a genuine excitement for the program and I love to see their passion for patriotism and how it affects those who come out.”

Always a special event, this year’s ceremony also brought in the Campbell County High School marching band and guests Christina Pollat and Joe Kissack, as well as Gov. Mark Gordon who was invited to the event by kindergarten teacher Julie Rankin.

In his address, Gordon commended the veterans gathered for their gift of service and bravery. He also thanked the veterans’ families for their sacrifice and provided the Honor Guard with challenge coins designed by a member of the Wyoming Guard.

“For the students of Rozet, this is wonderful to see you and hear you sing and to see your recognition of what this country means,” Gordon said. “Of what this country is made of. And to understand that we were the first nation in the world, the very first nation in the world, that had men and women who were willing to stand up not because they had a king telling them they had to do that, and not because they suddenly wanted to run off to war, but because they understood this was a great nation with a great future.

“They understood that by standing up themselves, by being organized, they could make the mightiest nation in the world.”

From the beginning of the ceremony to its end, everyone in the Rozet school community is involved in making the day one to remember.

Staff and students complete a time-crunched makeover in the gym. Sixth-graders emcee the event. Students join in the military medley led by Brittany Poitra and everyone comes together to sing “God Bless the USA” so loudly it’s as if the entire school is filled with the sound.

For some of the students, the highlight of the ceremony was gifting their handmade cards to the veterans who visited their school. Some shyly handed their cards over, while others gave an enthusiastic handshake and smile.

This year, students also recognized the novelty of having Wyoming’s chief executive in their building. That morning, some searched Gordon’s name online to make sure they knew what he looked like. Others made sure they’d have mementos from the day, asking the governor to sign their shoes.

“I’ve never been near a governor in my life and this is proof I was,” said Caellan, a sixth-grader and self-proclaimed leader of the shoe-signing trend as he held his freshly signed Nike sneaker. “I’m never getting rid of it. This is crazy.”