As a long-time educator in the Highline School District, I have participated in and been responsible for organizing many such assemblies.

Yesterday, as a substitute teacher, I had the occasion to observe yet another such assembly.

This assembly, organized by the students and staff at Mt. Rainier High School. was, by far, the best Veteran's Day assembly I have ever attended.

From the opening with the bagpipes, marching drum corps and the Marine Color Guard; to the closing, where white roses were handed out to school staff members who had served in the military, this assembly held the rapt attention of the audience of high school students - no small feat to be sure!

Everyone should have the opportunity to watch the excellent slide show these students produced. I was moved to tears when plaques of former MRHS students (some of them my friends) who died in combat were pictured in front of a U.S. Flag.

A major part of this program was a presentation by a staff member relating her experiences as an Army Reserve soldier and the impact of being separated from her "real life" to serve.

Having the Junior Class stand up as she had the audience imagine these students leaving to help rebuild a destroyed West Coast city and the impact this would have not only on their lives but the lives of those who remain behind, was a great way to make the sacrifice that soldiers and sailors face when they are deployed seem a little more real.

I just wanted to say Thank You! It has been a long time since I felt truly appreciated for my service in the military.

Kent Horton
Former MRHS student