IPHS program dedicated to veterans

More than 30 United States veterans and active-duty military members were on hand Friday at Iowa Park High School to be recognized for their service to our country.

The program began with Reveille played by IPHS senior Brayden Williams as the U.S. colors were presented by IPHS ROTC members. Senior Jose Nieto led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance and the Texas Pledge followed by the National Anthem sung by the IPHS A Cappella Choir.

IPHS senior Utah Robertson along with several high school band members honored the guests with a powerful rendition of Johnny Cash’s “That Old Ragged Flag”. There was also a video presentation from the IPHS journalism class and their sponsor, Christy Strahan.

The highlight of the program was guest speaker Larry Grauerholz. Grauerholz is a World War II veteran who was shot down over France. He told his story of surviving behind enemy lines for days before finally escaping into Spain. The program closed with Williams playing Taps to honor all fallen veterans.

Local veterans and active-duty military members in attendance Friday included Grauerholz, Joe Singer, Don Rousseaux, Larry White, Laura Allen, Tim Jetton, Alan Rousseaux, Dwain Halmer, Raymond Henderson, Crystal Wininger, T.O. Parsons, F.D.Little, Bud Teel, Harold Adams Sr., Glenn Durham, Bill Penny, Vern Mikkelson, Jerry Robertson, Larry Dutton, John Scholl, Thomas Fitzgerald, Delbert Todd, Jimmy Walker, Teresa Bates, Robert Johnson, Wayne Williams, Bryan Hanford, Collis Ikey, Rodney Saunders, Herb Adcock, Johnny Harrison, Mark Scarbrough, O.E. McIlvanie Jr, John Cummings, and Don Smith.