BRUSHY PRAIRIE, IN — Prairie Heights Community Schools honored over 70 veterans who were relatives of administration, teachers, staff and students with music, readings, multimedia displays, and a very special guest during two Veterans Day ceremonies held on Friday.

Culinary Arts students prepared a breakfast for veterans that started at 7:30 AM. The high school and middle school hosted a joint program in the high school gymnasium starting at 8:30 AM, a second program followed at the elementary school at 9:45 AM.

Opening the ceremonies at both programs featured the Orland American Legion Honor Guard posting the colors to honor the United States Flag, followed by the pledge and national anthem led by students.

The program also touched on 2022 being the 240th anniversary of the Purple Heart. A short video feature Panther Football and Wrestling Coach, Bo Kurtz, who was awarded the Purple Heart after he was hit by a bomb in Iraq during his service in the United States Marines.

Teachers who organized the event had a big secret that was unveiled when students began sharing some of their written words themed around the holiday and the service of men and women who have served.

Freshman Lilyana Johnson and her brother, 4th grader Nathaniel Johnson haven’t seen their dad in roughly two years due in large part to the his service in the United States Navy. During the first program words written by Lilyana expressed the perspective of what it is like for military families during period of separation. At the elementary program, Nathan shared about his dad’s service in the Navy.

Unknown to the brother and sister pair, and the audience at both programs at Prairie Heights, was that their father, United States Navy First Class Petty Officer Justin Johnson, made the trip from the Naval Air Station in Lemoore, California to surprise his children.

It was an epic secret which brought many smiles and tears of joy, but a reminder of one of the many sacrifices that United States Military men and women make every day to keep our country safe and protect our freedom.