Versailles FFA Hosts Veterans Dinner

VERSAILLES — On Thursday, Nov. 9, the Versailles FFA hosted a dinner at Versailles school for veterans in the surrounding areas.The program honored active duty military as well as veterans who were in attendance as well as deceased.

To start off the night, those in attendance enjoyed a meal which consisted of sandwiches, amish noodle soup, chilli soup, and various desserts. During the meal, everyone had the opportunity to look at a table set up for POW (Prisoners of War). This table was set for one and had many objects that represented the hardships and bitterness of being lost at war.

After the meal, Tiger Tunes, a group of fourth grade students at Versailles directed by Erin Rismiller, performed patriotic songs for the Veterans. After the performance, the veterans enjoyed listening to a poem recited by Riley Kruckeberg. After the poem, the program had guest speakers State Representative Angie King and Warren Davidson who serves as Congressmen.

Then both active military members and veterans were honored with a slideshow. Active military members were also given wooden flags that were made by the Versailles FFA Mechanical Principles class. Active members include: Army, Lewis Kremer represented by Beth Kremer, Hallie Mils, and Natalie Puccio represented by Alan and Sarah Wuebker; Navy, Janelle Hoelscher represented by Amy Hoelscher; Marines, Kyle Wuebker. Logan Miller and Aiva Miller were both represented by Erick and Sidney Miller; Space Force, Haddi Treon represented by Dean and Margie Treon. Patrick Miller was also recognized as he has enlisted in the Marines and is waiting to leave for boot camp.

Veterans of each branch and their spouses were also recognized. Army included the late Fred Bohman represented by Marlene Bohman, Dick Didier, Dave Miller, Virgil Heitkamp, Dick Gigandet, the late Wilbur Petitjean represented by Caroline Petitjean, Mike McClurg, Raymond Grisez, the late Bernard Shappie represented by Elsie Shappie, the late Jerry Poling represented by Carolyn Poling, John Groff, Dale George, Bill Ahrens, Gary Davidson, Tim Wagner, Tom Hemmelgarn, Larry Roll, Mark Kunk, the late Roger Magoto represented by Cheryl Magoto, Roger Bey, Charles Langenkamp, Jim Pohlman, Gene Epperly, the late Eugene Mescher represented by Eileen Mescher, Harry Nerderman, Dan Simon, the late Louie Keiser represented by Doris Keiser, the late John Kreig represented by Phyllis Krieg, Leroy Cordonnier, Jim Bergman, Paul Huber, Jim Nerderman, Scott Barga, Paul Gehret, Tom Mendenhall, Vern Bergman, Ron Hiestand, Lannie Brenner, Caleb Browder, Ted Schmitmeyer, the late Edmund Schlater represented by Velma Schlater, Russ Grisez, Nolan Mangen, Ron Mescher, John Berger, Earl Heitkamp, Warren Davidson, and Ryan Martin. The Navy included Robert Groff, Scott Riffel, Bob Magoteaux, James Short, Ronald Groff, Steven Groff, Dave Stonebreaker, Lesley Kueteman, Ben Bomholt, Jerry Bey, John Shue, Dave Bey, Dave Hollfinger, Tom Parin, Larry Laub, Ben Bernholt, and Matt Martin. The Air Force included the late Keith Spitzer represented by Shirley Spitzer, David Bechtol, George Stuck, Tim Huber, Ed DeMange, Ray Boas, Mark Echeman, Nick Meier, Dick Francis, Alvin Grilliot, Dale Poppelmann, Ernie Clayton, and Phil Poeppelman. The Marine included the late Harold Apple represented by Carol Apple, the late Victor Niekamp represented by Bernadine Niekamp, Gary Kunk, and Dean Winner. The National Guard included Paul Meyer, Duey Ward, John Schmitmeyer, the late Howard Rehmert represented by Janet Rehmert, Robert Albers, the late Frank Huber represented by Diana Huber, Jerry Winner, John Sargent, Luke Stachel, and Larry Pleiman.

For the Veterans Day Dinner, the Versailles FFA conducted an art contest. The winners included: high school division – 1st Place Maddie Walters, 2nd Place Collin Francis and 3rd Place Julia Bergman. Middle School Division – 1st Place Monica Evers, 2nd Place Whitley Knore, and 3rd Place Julia Evers. Elementary Division – 1st Sophia Hecht, 2nd Place Katie Kraft and 3rd Place Alyssa Billenstein.

Along with recognizing both the veterans and the active duty members, they were also given a wooden flag made by the Advanced Mechanical Principles classes, a bag filled with a coloring page colored by Versailles students and a thank you note, as well as with a floral arrangement made from the Greenhouse Management Class. Members who assisted in making this event possible included: Elias Mosier, Lauren Grogean, Colin Batten, Zoe Billenstein, Riley Kruckeberg, Jacob Simons, Andrew Lyons, Keira Rahm, Emma Middendorf, Camille George, Lucy Schmitmeyer, Greta Broering, Rhylan Broerman, Gracie Henry, Brooke Bergman, Ruhtie Smith, Eden Barga, Luke Kaiser, Levi Barga, Hank Smith, Shawna Schmitmeyer, Amelia Grillot, Josh Henry, Brooklyn Livingston, Madilyn Wagner, Trey Huber, Jack Suber, Alex Dirksen, Nathan Timmerman, Olivia Pohlman and Dylan Meyer.