Northville elementary students, along with band and chorus members, honored local veterans with a special assembly last Friday.
The event opened with the crowd joining the NCS chorus in singing “The Star- Spangled Banner”, followed by the band striking up “You’re a Grand Old Flag”.
Emcees Charlie and Jack introduced students to lead the Pledge of Allegiance and asked the veterans in attendance to stand and be recognized. Assistant Principal Jamie Groff Dickinson then proudly introduced the day’s guest speaker, her twin sister Jessica Groff Barr.
Barr, a 1995 NCS graduate, attended the United States Naval Academy and subsequently served on the USS Reagan and other ships during her time in the Navy.
During her speech, Barr noted with pride the many NCS alumni who have served in the military, and also acknowledged those who stayed closer to home who have grown into leadership and service roles within our community. She told the students choosing to be of service is one of the most important things they can aspire to, whether they join the military or work for the betterment of their hometown.
Barr added how grateful she is for growing up in Northville, saying her upbringing helped shape her into the kind of person who would choose to serve.
Barr’s speech was followed by performances and presentations from each elementary grade. Students in Kindergarten through second grade sang songs honoring soldiers and servicemembers. Third and fourth graders gave presentations about the branches of the military, the timeline of Veterans Day, and personal statements about “What a Veteran Means to Me”. Fifth grade students followed with a slideshow about the history of the military and Veterans Day, along with the presentation of a flag made in class and a description of the “Missing Man Table” featured on the stage.
A video featuring local veterans, many of them Northville graduates, closed the assembly.
Please visit https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1qdmKmELICIYECscnegGEjhe94JynW_XP?usp=sharing for the complete photo folder from the event.
Many thanks to the veterans who joined our students Friday, and thank you to all veterans for your service!
Guest speaker Jessica Groff Barr addresses the students.
