Monroe school awarded key to City of Green River

The people behind Monroe Intermediate School’s popular Veterans Day Program were recognized by the city for their continued efforts to honor the city’s veterans.

Mayor Hank Castillon awarded representatives of the school with a plaque featuring a key, along with city-branded coins and an American flag that had been flown over Afghanistan.

Kathy Wiekhorst, a retired teacher who helped initiate the long-running program, said the idea came about when she and another teacher, Mary Ortega, were talking about their fathers, who had both served during World War II. The two decided to bring veterans into their classrooms at the old Lincoln school and the program ballooned from there.

Wiekhorst said Castillon and other veterans would talk to students about their experiences, with the program expanding into a parade featuring the veterans during those early years.

“It was just an awesome, awesome experience,” she said.

When Wiekhorst, Ortega and Patsy Christensen transferred from the old Lincoln school building to Monroe Intermediate School, they took the program with them. Christensen said some veterans have difficulty telling their stories to anyone. She recalled one vet who spoke to students in a classroom while his son waited in the hall because he wasn’t able to talk to his son about his experiences.

Monroe Principal A.J. Nathan said one of the larger highlights is the gratitude the veterans show students during their program. He estimates that nearly 1,500 students have sat through or taken part in the Veterans Day program, something that speaks to them more than reading about war in a text book.

“It’s things like the Veterans Day program that stick with them,” Nathan said.

“It’s that day they’re sitting across from the veterans, there’s a connection that can’t be achieved through text books or watching a movie,” Christensen said.

She said the most powerful emotions come out while the armed forces medley is performed, with veterans standing while their branch’s theme is played. She said the men often have tears in their eyes and are openly crying as the music plays.

“It’s something you can’t replace,” she said.