Delton-Kellogg High School’s Annual Veterans Day program will take place on Friday, November 9th. The event will begin at 1:30pm and take place in the high school gymnasium. The public and ALL active duty and vets are encouraged to attend, and it is FREE.
This has become a very unique and memorable opportunity for high school students to honor—and thank—members from all US Military branches.
The High School Band, under the direction of Sara Knight, will perform several selections they played during the 2017 Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade—one of just two bands asked to represent Michigan in Hawaii during last year’s commemoration of the 76th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor.
This year, the students have asked a very distinguished special guest to be speaker - Lt. General, USAF (retired) Richard Burpee, from Delton’s class of 1951.
General Burpee joined the Air Force in 1953, and in his 37 years of service had flown over 11,000 hours, including 336 combat missions over Vietnam. Burpee rose to the rank of Lt. General (3-star) and became Commander, 15th Air Force where he retired in 1990. His military decorations include National Defense and Air Force Distinguished Service Medals, Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster, Bronze Star, Air Medal with 14 Oak Leaf Clusters and the Air Force Commendation Medal.
Lt. General Richard A. Burpee was enshrined into the Michigan Aviation Hall of Fame in 1998 for a long and illustrious career in military aviation where he played a significant role in the defense of our country.
Last year, band member Sarah Barney, then a sophomore, summed it up when she said, “it's more of an honor that we get to do this for the veterans and give back a little bit to them for everything they've done for us.”
Don’t miss this wonderful opportunity, Friday, November 9th at the Delton-Kellogg High School, to join area high school students as they honor—and thank—members from all US Military branches: Active Duty, Veterans and the fallen for all they’ve done and continue to do.
Source: Press Release
