Front Street Gazebo hosts Veteran's Day assembly

Two days prior to the actual Veteran's Day, the students of Cascade School District had an alloted time on Friday, November 9 at 1 p.m. to honor and pay gratitude to the local heros - the veterans within their community.
    All of the schools from the giggling Peshastin-Dryden Elementary six year olds to the towering Cascade High School seniors, gathered around the gazebo on Front Street to participate in the Veteran's Day assembly. The City of Leavenworth shut down Front Street solely so the students could partake in the ceremony and engage with their local veterans.
    "The main importance of students acknowledging Veteran’s Day is that, aside from being a legal requirement for schools to provide additional educational opportunities around Veteran’s Day, I believe that observing celebrations and holidays is an important part of learning about our country’s history and culture," said Mike Camp, who has organized the assembly for Osborn for 16 years. "Veteran’s Day is a day to not only honor those who served, but to morn for those who lost their lives service to our country."
    Not only were students in attendance, but veterans and Leavenworth residents were invited to the gazebo. Several members of the community and veterans milled around, near the students and was an opportunity for the younger residents of Leavenworth to interact with those who have served our country.
    "My hope for a takeaway for students is that they get to meet local veterans and hear a little bit about their service. I hope that students will walk away with a greater understanding of service to community and nation and an appreciation for those who have given of themselves in service to a greater good," said Camp.
    This was not only a learning opportunity, but a chance for students to engage, brush shoulders with and pay respect to those within their own city limits that served their country.
    "I also hope that students will see that there are ‘heroes’ in our midst and that heroes can be more than those elite athletes musicians and public figures they watch and listen to in the media, but also their neighbors, friends and relatives," said Camp.