A grant from the Rural School Collaborative funded Charleston Middle School's Veterans Day assembly program. The grant money was used to purchase flag cases, flags that were flown and then retired and folded by local VFW members, and refreshments. The assembly included local student and boy scout participation, choir performances, band music, and recognition of veteran guests of honor. The assembly allowed the school and community to come together to honor veterans.

1. Grant Provided by Rural School Collaborative
Chris Bily, Charleston Middle School Classroom Teacher
and Veterans Day Assembly Committee Member

2. The flags shown here were flown at
CMS for 24 hours then retired and
folded by a group of local VFW
members. Flags were then put in
cases bought and paid for by the RSC
grant and later presented to our
honoree Veterans.

3. Bought using RSC Grant money and
hung in the gymnasium where the
Veterans Day assembly was held.

4. Bought using RSC Grant money and
hung in the gymnasium where the
Veterans Day assembly was held.

5. Bought using RSC Grant money and
hung in the gymnasium where the
Veterans Day assembly was held.

6. Bought using RSC Grant money and
hung in the gymnasium where the
Veterans Day assembly was held.

7. Bought using RSC Grant money and
hung in the gymnasium where the
Veterans Day assembly was held.

8. CMS 8th Graders hosted and led the
Veterans Day ceremony

9. Local Boy Scout Troop and CMS
Students present the flags

10. CMS Choir sing solos for Veterans

11. Students and Staff alike were able to
honor their veteran guests. Veterans
were recognized in front of the student
body then presented with a small
token of appreciation (a star cut from
a retired US flag with a student
created poem attached)

12. The CMS band played each military
branch songs while student teams
sang along.

13. Three local veterans who have
contributed a great deal to our program
and community were honored with the
flag cases (shown in first slide).
Top Left: Sergeant Stokes (long time
contributor to Veterans Day assembly.
Bottom Left: Tad Mayhall (US Air Force)
and brother Blain Mayhall (CMS LBS1)
Bottom Right: Jason Steidl (US Army
and parent of CMS 8th Grader)
Top Right: Mr. Lynn, Veterans Day
committee head and Army veteran, was
a surprised 4th nominee for honorary
CMS veteran for 2015.

14. Local Veterans, Students, and Staff
including my Stepfather, Phil Fessler
(third from left), pay their respects to
fallen troops during the playing of
TAPS by CMS band members.

15. CMS Students, Staff, and their
veteran guest show their appreciation.

16. CMS Students, Staff, and Veteran
Guests mingle throughout the
ceremony in the gym. Following the
ceremony students and their guests
congregated in the cafeteria for
refreshments that were paid for using
RSC grant funds.

17. On behalf of my family and
me, Charleston Middle
School, and the community of
Charleston, I want to extend
a very sincere thank you to
everyone at the Rural School
Collaborative who funded our
program. This continues to
be a highlight within our
community and is able to
carry on through your
support.