This week, schools across the District honored service members from America’s armed forces during school announcements and through special Veterans Day programs. All schools shared messages of remembrance and gratitude for veterans during their morning announcements on Monday, and several schools who have traditions of hosting Veterans Day ceremonies celebrated their events with students, teachers, staff and veterans. 

To all of the veterans in our community—parents, grandparents, friends and family members, as well as Minnetonka teachers, staff, volunteers and alumni—thank you for your service. We are grateful for you.

Minnetonka High School | Watch Video
On Monday, November 11, Minnetonka High School students, staff and families celebrated veterans in our community during the school’s annual Veterans Day ceremony. “The tradition of this event is especially significant,” said Minnetonka High School Principal Jeff Erickson in his address at the program. “We gather to honor and celebrate those who have sacrificed so much for our country and the freedoms we cannot take for granted.” 

The ceremony was led by MHS Student Government and featured several MHS student speakers and musicians. “The flag is full of stories, and yet many of them are rarely told,” said junior Isabelle Gensmer in her speech. “Sharing these stories is how we honor our peers, ourselves and those that we admire. It is why we hang our flag.”
 
The program also included words from a guest keynote speaker, Major Elizabeth Ayotte, a 2004 graduate of Minnetonka High School. She was inspired to join the military after the events of September 11, 2001, which took place during her sophomore year of high school. “From that moment on, I dedicated myself to joining the military so that I could have my turn to contribute,” Ayotte shared.

Veterans in attendance were recognized for their service, and local police officers, firefighters and EMTs were honored as well. At the conclusion of the program, veterans and their guests were invited to a small reception, where they were able to connect. 

“Today, we have the chance to come together to listen, to learn, and to give thanks,” said MHS teacher and student government advisor Becky Johnson during the event. “This morning’s presentation is an invitation to think about how blessed we are to live in this country, where we are free to pursue our dreams, practice our faith, promote our ideals, and to show respect and gratitude for those in uniform that have given of themselves to ensure those freedoms.”

Deephaven Elementary
Students at Deephaven Elementary began their week with a school assembly honoring veterans. Fourth and fifth grade scouts performed a flag ceremony to start the event, and fifth grade students emceed the morning, sharing about the impact of veterans in our country. Guest speaker Lieutenant Colonel Neal Hunter, who is a Chief Pilot for the 96th Airlift Squadron, spoke during the ceremony. He is a 2000 graduate of Minnetonka High School and a Deephaven Elementary parent.

Later in the program, fifth graders read a poem about Veterans Day. The school joined together to sing the Star Spangled Banner, and veterans in the Deephaven community were recognized. 

“It’s always an incredible experience for our students and the veterans,” shared Deephaven Elementary Principal Bryan McGinley, reflecting on the event. “Tears of appreciation from the veterans are not uncommon, and students that invited a veteran to the assembly beam with pride when they are recognized by the veteran they invited. It’s an important event to remember and recognize the important role our veterans played in securing our nation.”

Excelsior Elementary | Watch Video
Excelsior Elementary’s fourth grade Veterans Day program is a long-standing tradition featuring history lessons, personal interviews with veterans and patriotic music. Students emceed the program and scouts from the classes also worked together to create a color guard after spending recess time learning flag etiquette to properly carry and post the colors during the program. During the ceremony, students heard from Excelsior parent Mark Lippert, Lt. Commander U.S. Navy Retired, who answered audience questions and shared his experiences. 

In preparation for the event, each student interviewed a veteran and contributed to a school display publishing the stories. “The most powerful lessons come from meeting the everyday people who committed their lives to service,” said Superintendent David Law during the program. “Thank you so much for making it personal for them.” 

“As teachers, we are incredibly proud to see our students show respect, honor and gratitude towards our honored veterans through this program,” shared teacher Brooke Igl. “They have learned a great deal through preparing for this program that will last a lifetime.  Our students are always in awe that these honored Veterans will show up for their performance and love seeing them stand as each branch is honored to cheer and show their gratitude, especially if it is a special family member.”

Tonka Online
New this year, fourth graders in Wendi Bottiger’s Tonka Online class presented a virtual Veterans Day Ceremony to recognize the impact of military service members. During the program, students sang songs and took turns presenting facts and research they did about different branches of the military. The program opened with the song “America the Beautiful,” and then students sang each military branch song between their presentations. 

“I am so proud of the students for their hard work in researching and coming up with unique ways to deliver important facts to the audience,” said Bottiger. “I'm also proud of them for taking time to learn the songs they presented and for going with the flow when technology didn't want to cooperate during the presentation.” 

Because of the program’s virtual format, friends and family from across the country were able to tune in to celebrate the students’ work and reflect on Veterans Day with gratitude.