by Tom Coombe
Patriotism was on full display Thursday during a Veterans’ Day program at the Ely schools.
Veterans, including 98-year-old Elyite Calvin Herala, the only World War II vet in attendance, were saluted with words, music and applause by an audience of Ely’s student body, staff and community members.
About 600 people were inside the school’s gymnasium for the event, which returned to the school calendar this year after a Covid-19 prompted hiatus last fall.
From the gymnasium balcony, Washington Elementary students sung “I Love America,” while the audience listened as seventh-grader Mason Spate-Kurnava read his winning essay from the VFW’s “Patriot’s Pen” Contest.
“There are so many different ways you can be a good American,“ said Spate-Kurnava. “To be a good American, I need to help others, focus on benefiting my community, and learn from others around me.”