FREE WRITE!!!!!!!!

Today I had to leave my U.S. History II class 15 minutes early because I had to get ready to sing with my choir. The school's Performing Arts choir was asked to sing at the Veterans Day service that our school held. Five of my friends along with myself got to leave in the middle of the class. We were told to leave quietly; apparently we weren't quiet enough because one of the "popular" kids yelled at us to be quieter.

The 6 of us got over to the Black Box Theatre in building 2, and joined the rest of the choir in practicing before we headed out to sing. After we got out there we practiced getting our first note off of the vocal section before us. Then the service began with Mr. DePrince saying a few words, and introducing Dr. Stallone. While Dr. Stallone was talking we stood there patiently waiting for the ROTC to finish with it's presentation of the colors. After they had presented their arms we recited the Pledge of Allegiance, and we sang the National Anthem. Then the color guard left, and Dr. Stallone introduced Seargent Forman. He then introduced our guest speaker who's phone had gone off right as Seargent Forman introduced him.

The guest speaker then told us all a story about his friend Dave who had been a medical helper in Vietnam. The two of them were a few days away from going home when then got a call saying that their platoon was under heavy fire and was facing multiple casualties. Dave wanted to go, but the guest speaker told him that he was to be heading home in 9 days. Dave still wanted to help with what he could, so he went to help the platoon. Our guest speaker was wounded while helping one of the soldiers, and was taken to an off site medical tent then transferred to a hospital in Japan. He never saw his friend Dave again. Turns out that he had died while helping the platoon on the battlefield. The guest speaker told us that there isn't a day that goes by were he doesn't think of Dave.

Then Mr. Hewitt played Taps on the trumpet while a ceremonial wreath was placed on the memorial for veterans. Then we say "My Country Tis of Thee", and finished off the service. After it was all over we headed back to the Black Box Theartre, and got ready for our next classes.