Dateline: November 18, 2004

HISD students honor American veterans

By Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

The Hedley Public School paid a memorable tribute to local men and women who have served in the United States armed forces during services last Thursday.

Students in every grade participated in the Veterans’ Day program, which began with a turkey and dressing dinner in the Hedley cafeteria with high school students waiting on the every need of the veterans and other guests.

The meal was followed by activities in the school library, beginning with the Pledge of Allegiance being led by a group of class leaders representing the first through 12th grades.

Mariah Couch and Ben Shaw read essays offering tributes to American veterans. The Hedley Jr. High Choir performed a “Stars & Stripes” medley, and Andrea Musick gave an amazing performance of “God Bless the USA.”

Allison Hill and Sarah Bolin presented a memorable PowerPoint presentation, which featured then and now pictures of local veterans from World War II through Operation Iraqi Freedom with patriotic and uplifting music playing in the background.

The National Anthem was performed by Bryan Hill, Jon Leggitt, Bruce Howard, and Mack Garrison; and Superintendent Hill gave closing remarks.

Also on Thursday, the Adamson-Lane Post of the American Legion held Veterans’ Day services at the Hedley Lions Hall with former Marine staff sergeant Johnny Hoggatt delivering the keynote address.

Hoggatt graduated from Hedley High in 1996 and originally joined the service to have a good time.

“I wanted a job that was fun, and fun to me was blowing stuff up,” he said.

He went to work in explosive ordinance disposal and learned how to defuse bombs.

In December 2001 he helped re-open the embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan; and on February 14, 2003, he arrived in Kuwait City in preparation for the liberation of Iraq. His unit faced daily attacks as American forces overthrew the regime of Saddam Hussein.

“I do believe we’re doing the right thing over there,” Hoggatt said. “I had a lot of interaction with Iraqis, and they told us horrific stories of how Saddam treated his people. He did need to be taken out.”

Hoggatt, who now works at Pantex, said it hits him in his heart when a soldier or Marine dies in Iraq, but he still thinks the war is just.

“I’d leave my good job and go back if I had to.”

Veterans’ Day services in Clarendon were canceled by the local VFW Post following the untimely death of VFW District Commander Bill Holden.