By LAURA HAMMACK, guest columnist

I have three favorite days of the school year: First day of school, graduation day and Veterans Day. The reasons for the first two are likely obvious. If you have ever been to a Veterans Day program in the Larry C. Banks Memorial Gymnasium at Brown County High School, you understand why Veterans Day is also on this list.

This year, we will have our program on Monday, Nov. 11 at 9:30 a.m. All veterans and their families are welcomed and encouraged to attend. You do not need to be from Brown County to attend this program, so please encourage friends and family members to participate.

We start things off with a social hour sponsored by the Salvation Army beginning at 8:30 a.m. in the auxiliary gymnasium. (We have lots of coffee at the ready!)

Every student from our campus schools attends this program, along with our teachers and staff. I am sure you can imagine it is very special to see the Larry C. Banks Memorial Gymnasium, a space named for the sole fallen Vietnam warfighter from Brown County High School, packed with students, staff, community members, and the guests of honor, our veterans.

We will take a moment to remember the man for which the gymnasium is named and offer up our appreciation through remembrance of his ultimate sacrifice.

During the program, the Brown County High School Wind Ensemble and the combined choirs from Brown County High School and Brown County Junior High School perform patriotic pieces that inspire pride for the heroes who are celebrated.

Our local VFW presents the winners from the Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen essay contests.

Additionally, widows of veterans and our enlisted students from Brown County High School are specially honored.

This year, we are grateful to be joined by our two state legislators, Sen. Eric Koch and Rep. Chris May. They will both offer encouraging remarks to those who are assembled. BCHS teacher and History Club Co-Sponsor, Emily Lewellen, will be sharing her experience as an educator participating in the Memorializing the Fallen project where she researched and posthumously honored Brown County World War I veteran, Pvt. Ray Griffin.

We have a very special keynote speaker this year, Lt. Cmdr. Michael D. Lemmons, the executive officer/weapons program manager from NSWC Crane. We are deeply grateful to have Lemmons share his experiences with us. His military career is extraordinary and one for which we hold deep pride that he has agreed to join us in Brown County for this engagement.

Following the program, we invite all veterans and their families to stay for a luncheon sponsored by Brown County Schools. Having an opportunity for fellowship after the program is one of my favorite parts of the day. Seeing smiles on the faces of the individuals who selflessly protected our freedom warms our hearts. Our BCHS History Club students eat lunch with our veterans and it is inspiring to see our veterans engaging with our youth who genuinely love hearing their stories.

Veterans Day takes place every Nov. 11 to honor, “the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month” of 1918 that memorialized the end of World War I. By hosting this very special program, we are committed to ensuring that our students appreciate and understand the sacrifices that were made on their behalf.

This program celebrates all who served as we lift up with sincere gratitude and deep respect the understanding that “all gave some; some gave all.”

Laura Hammack is superintendent of Brown County schools. She can be reached at 812-988-6601 or [email protected].