Students Honor Local Veterans During a Concert

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On the evening of November 14, 2012, the Fine Arts Department from Payson Junior High School put on a special concert to honor local veterans. Invitations were sent out to veterans in the area inviting them to this wonderful commemoration.

The visual arts department contributed drawings of trees from Payson’s Memorial Park. Each tree was planted in honor of a World War I Veteran from Payson. Select students from the junior high went to the park and created beautiful drawings that were inspired by those trees.

The Drama Department contributed dramatic performances. One of these performances included a special saddle from the early 1900’s and poetry, which was originally published in the Paysonian newspaper in 1917.

Musical performances were put on by the Advanced Orchestra, Perfect Harmony and Concert Singers, Beginning and Advanced Bands, the Jazz Band and Percussion Ensemble. These performances included the anthems for each branch of the military. While their anthem was playing, audience members who are currently or have previously served in that branch were asked to stand and be recognized while also being given a token of our appreciation- a cookie from the students and staff. Braxton Daley, a student at Payson Junior, said, “I heard one of
the veterans say he was happy to be invited and happy to get a cookie!”

The grand finale for the concert was called “Patriotic Salute” and was performed by all of the departments. This song was a medley which included several of America’s favorite Patriotic tunes such as “Yankee Doodle,” “You’re a Grand Ol’ Flag,” and even bits and pieces of Sousa’s “Stars and Stripes Forever.”

Everyone who performed at the concert worked very hard to be ready to contribute to this special evening. Connie Erickson, the band teacher at the junior high, said, “The concert  was a great way to start the year and involve our whole department, all while honoring veterans and being able to focus on what soldiers do.” Kobey Evans, 7th grader, said, “The audience who attended walked away remembering those who sacrificed for this country.”

We would like to thank Kenton Phillips who was the Emcee for the event, as well as Richard Lindsey and Craig Zeeman who were sound and light technicians for the evening. Thank you to Payson High School’s Fine Arts Department, Custodians, and Administration for hosting this extraordinary event and for all of your help. Congratulations and thank you to the Fine Arts teachers and students at Payson Junior High for putting on such a wonderful, memorable evening! Lastly, thank you to the great Veterans of our country-we are deeply grateful for your profound service and sacrifice and honor all that you do!