Bay City Tribune

Matagorda County schools will be saluting America's veterans Wednesday, Nov. 11, in a variety of Veteran's Day Programs.

Bay City High School will be welcoming members of VFW Post 2438 for an assembly at 9 a.m. that will include a procession of local veterans marching alongside the flag of their branch of service.

The BCHS band will play patriotic music and guest speaker Bill Greer will address the students, discussing what a veteran is and how they effect each American's life.

"We owe our freedom to these veterans," said VFW Post 2438 Commander Greer. "We owe our freedom to the veterans in the Continental Army. We think about Washington, but we don't think about the guy that was fighting. I'm still to this day in awe of WWII vets."

"When people think about a veteran they think about an old guy. Veterans are very young."

"When I was in the hospital in Guam I met the Lieutenant Governor of Guam. He invited me to his home on a Saturday because they were having this meal. He introduced me and said, 'this is Lance Corporal Greer and he's a veteran.' I was shocked. I had an image in my mind of a veteran as an old man."

Greer will be inviting participation from audience members during his speech.

"I like to have the crowd interact," he said. "I love working with the students."

Cherry Elementary School in Bay City will have an assembly and slide show at 1:30 p.m. featuring local veterans from students' families.

Guest speak Jack Kelley, who's grandson Garrison Kelley is a student, will attend to speak with students and faculty.

Tidehaven High School will be holding an assembly at 9:30 a.m. in the campus gymnasium where they will welcome Sons of the American Legion.

Palacios High School will hold a program at 9 a.m. and Van Vleck High School will hold an assembly at 10 a.m. that will include a reading of the President's proclamation and a folding of the U.S. flag.