Area United States Armed Forces veterans filed into the front of Quitman High School to a standing ovation from students and family members as patriotic music set the mood for the annual Veterans Day Program.

The QHS Student Council planned and served as host for the event honoring veterans from all branches of the armed forces, past and present. The program began with a stirring performance of “Taps” by Jacob Day and Quitman Band Director Jonathan Gandy.

After a welcome from QHS Principal Dana Hamrick, Cammie Hicks and Molly Tanner led the assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American and Texas flags. Hannah Hardy gave the opening prayer followed by a spirited performance by the Quitman Elementary School Choir under the direction of Katrina Morrow.

Caroline Cameron, accompanied by Izaak Chance, held the crowd spellbound with a performance of “America the Beautiful.”

Quitman math teacher Chris Hood, a reserve in the United States Air Force who is being deployed on a mission in January, introduced his father, Air Force Veteran Robert Hood, who was the program’s guest speaker. “It is an honor to be here, not just because my son was able to introduce me, but I get to be here with my comrades,” the elder Hood said. “I first want to thank each of you for all the sacrifices you made serving your country.”

Hood had the QHS senior students, teachers and sponsors stand and challenged the students to start considering the decisions they would be making. “I know many of you have plans for college and your future, but many of you still have not made decisions about your future,” Hood said. “To you I say, consider one of the branches of the armed forces. You can be educated and trained for the future while learning a variety of things and will be serving your country.”

Hood spoke about Veterans Day. “We are here to celebrate what these men and women have done to preserve our way of life and the freedoms we enjoy today. I know when I returned to East Texas after serving, I rubbed my toes in the sand and it was like coming home to heaven,” Hood admitted. “These soldiers here today know exactly what I mean. It’s hard to imagine unless you have been there. After being gone on a mission, there is just nothing like being home again.”

The Air Force veteran continued his words about veterans. “Obviously, not every man and woman who has served made it home to feel the sand between their toes. They came home is a flag-draped coffin. They made the ultimate sacrifice so we could be sitting here today having this program,” Hood said. “We owe a debt of gratitude to those who have served and lost their life, to those who have served and have lived productive lives who sit here today, and those who are serving somewhere in the world today. We also must remember those who have come home with the scars of war. Some are missing limbs and others with different injuries affecting their lives.”

Hood ended his speech with a tribute. “We need to remember and honor our soldiers from those who survived the winter at Valley Forge during the American Revolution to the dough boys in the trenches of France in World War I, the soldiers who preserved our way of life in World War II, to those who served in Korea and the many we lost and who served in the jungles of Viet Nam,” Hood concluded. “And to those right now all over the world who are fighting this very day in Afghanistan. May we remember and honor them all. God bless our troops and God bless America.”