Honoring Veterans

Charter School honors veterans

Above, Sweet Home Charter School students Liam Potter, left, and Serinity Boyer prepare to hoist the American flat at Sweet Home Charter School as other students and local veterans, in rear stand at attention. The Charter School hosted veterans for a special program Friday, Nov. 14.

Photos by Scott Swanson

A visitor surveys the Hero Wall created by Charter School students to honor veterans.

David Brock performs “America the Beautiful” on the bagpipes

Stan Gray of the Sweet Home VFW presents a folded flag to students.

Second-graders greet VFW Honor Guard members.

Veterans Day Parade

Veterans from throughout the Willamette Valley and beyond convened Tuesday, Nov. 11, for the 74th annual Linn County Veterans Day Parade in downtown Albany. Participants included Lebanon High School’s Junior ROTC Program students and Linn County Search and Rescue members.

Photos courtesy of Cole Harnar

Hands in Soil, Hearts out to Veterans

Staff, parents and students at Sweet Home and Sand Ridge charter schools spent Veterans Day beautifying the flower beds at the Veterans Club on Nov. 11. 

“I’ve noticed the last year or so that their flower beds needed a little TLC,” SH Charter School Principal Monica Isom said. She reached out to parents to see if they’d be interested in serving veterans by cleaning the beds.

With a donation of bark dust, the group was able to weed and mulch the beds. A grateful patron at Dutch Bros. next door bought hot chocolate for all the kids who helped.

Photo by Sarah Brown

Students and parents strip overgrown weeds from the planter strip in front of the VFW Hall on Nov. 11.

Monica Isom and a student pull weeds from the soil.

Chloe Lawson cuts overgrown poppies in the VFW parking lot.

Wade Lawson shovels dirt off the sidewalk.

Parent Jen Henry, center, and Wesley Landis pour fresh mulch into a flower bed, while Amanda Landis, left, watches.

Mulch is added to planter strips in front of the VFW Hall.

Nolan Landis and Joy Cutsforth trim weeds between flag poles in front of the VFW Hall.

Chloe Lawson rakes fresh mulch over a flower bed in front of the VFW.

Parent Jen Henry, left, and Wesley Landis prepare to pour fresh mulch into a flower bed.

Wesley Landis rakes fresh mulch.