BY TRACY LEE TATE
Times Staff Writer
LAKE BUTLER — Union County High School presented its annual Veterans Day Celebration ceremony on Monday, Nov. 14, 2022, despite the delay caused by last week’s storm event.
The event had originally been set for Nov. 11, 2022 but the school was closed due to tropical storm Nicole. Flags and crosses honoring the county’s veterans were posted along SR-121 as in previous years.
Attendance was lighter than in previous years, most likely due to the rescheduling on a work day, rather than on the actual holiday as originally planned, but there were still about 120 veterans, family members, members of the community, students and school district administrators and staff on hand in the UCHS Auditorium to show their gratitude for the service to UC veterans have given to the U.S.
The event opened with the UCHS Symphonic Band presenting an original work written for especially for them, “Next Generation Fanfare.” The music was followed by a welcome speech by Union County Superintendent of Schools Mike Ripplinger – stating the importance of honoring our nations veterans. A special prayer was then offered by Union County American Legion Chaplain Gene Gordon.
The UCHS JROTC Color Guard then presented the state and national colors in a precise march from the back of the auditorium to the stage, and then back. The band then played the medley “Armed Forces on Parade,” featuring the songs for each branch of the U.S. Military. JROTC members carried the flag of each branch, while the words to each theme were projected in the video displays at the front of the room. Veterans in the audience were asked to stand when the theme for the branch in which they had served was played.
UCHS History teacher Tammy Sulsona them spoke about the history of honoring veterans and why it is important that Americans do so today. She was followed by UCHS JROTC 2022 Tiger Battalion Commander Cadet Lt. Col. Adam Ali, who also spoke about the importance of both military service and honoring those who have served.
The guest of honor/guest speaker for the event was Annette Redman, Vice Mayor of Lake Butler and well known local resident. She was a member of the United States Army for 18 years, retiring in 1998 with the rank of Sergeant First Class.
Redman spoke about graduating from Union County High School and then taking her oath of service in 1980. She said she decided to join after the controversy at that time about restarting the draft and whether or not women would be called up for it.
“I remember the protests and conversations on the news about women and the draft,” Redman said. “There was this one young woman saying that she would get pregnant to avoid being drafted if it came down to it. I remember thinking that it was so unfair, that men did not have any such option to avoid service and wondered why it was that way. I decided to join the Army and serve my country, not because I had to but because it was the right thing.”
Redman recalled her arrival and time in boot camp at Fort Dix, New Jersey – “a Florida girl, arriving in New Jersey in the winter (January).” She said she was both excited and afraid and was impressed with the emphasis on teamwork.
“I came from a family with 10 children and I already knew the value of teamwork, but the drill sergeants really made it real,” she said. “We were all different, from different parts of the country, with different raisings and maybe with different religions but we became a team because we were all there for the same reason – to serve and protect our country and way of life.”
Redman said she did things in training that scared her, but that she gained confidence through her team and knew she could get it done. She said the lesson she learned about teamwork was that “We are not finished until we all are finished – it’s not about the individual but the team.”
“We come from a great nation and we must always honor it and those who have honored it with their service,” Redman said in conclusion. “Through their work they have made the world a better place to be and they have earned the honor and respect for their efforts.”
The event was closed by a montage of images presented by Lt. Col. Austin Akers, accompanied by the band playing “Within These Hallowed Halls,” a medley of inspirational patriotic songs and then closing words from Ripplinger.
