Elementary students create mural honoring American veterans

KANSAS CITY, KAN. – Ahead of Veterans Day, fourth grade students at Delaware Ridge Elementary created a mural honoring veterans past and present.

The mural is made up of 40, six inch by six inch squares, together portraying the flag raising on Mount Suribachi at the Battle of Iwo Jima.

Adam Meschke, a teacher at DRE spearheaded the project. He says the idea behind the mural was to engage kids in something meaningful.

“We felt it was one of the most memorable pictures, one that reflects sacrifice, brotherhood and remembering veterans,” said Meschke.

Meschke says the project brought forth lessons in history, culture, and art. He hopes others will take as much pride in the mural as the students do.

“This artwork embraces how much our school cares about the men and women that protect our country. This is something the fourth graders will never forget creating,” Meschke said.

The Veterans Memorial Mural was unveiled at the DRE Veterans Day Assembly, and is now on display in the school.

KCK World War II veteran on Honor Flight to Washington

By ALAN HOSKINS

KANSAS CITY, KAN. ----- Christmas this year came early for one of Sunflower Hills’ most popular volunteers.

A volunteer bringing out golf carts at Sunflower Hills for the last 26 years, 87-year-old Gerry Ruble of Kansas City, Kan., spent a memorable and sometimes tearful Veterans Day in Washington, D.C. Nov. 11.

A Navy veteran of World War II, Ruble was one of 25 veterans from Kansas City flown to Washington on an Honor Flight of the nation capital’s most famous monuments.

“Jerry Brotherson and George Todd, who I knew from the golf course, had both gone on the trip and spoke really high of it so I signed up about a year ago,” says Ruble. “It’s all done by donations so they stopped it for awhile but then started up again and I got a call about a month ahead of time.”

As it turned out, it was better than expected.

“When we got off the plane at Reagan Airport, there was a big crowd of people lined up on both sides of the ramp to meet us, shake our hands and thank us – people of all ages, all the way from Boy Scouts to military personnel. That was the first time I teared up, it really made us feel like we were something.”

About half of the 25 veterans were accompanied by guardians or caretakers but every vet had a personal ‘guardian’ while in Washington including about eight or nine vets in wheel chairs. “My guardian, Darlene Christianson, did an excellent job caring for an old man,” said Ruble.

Provided an official escort, the veterans were bussed to their primary destination, the World War II monument, and then later to the Vietnam, Korean and Air Force monuments, Lincoln Memorial and Iwo Jima Monument.

“The Washington Monument was still under repair; they took the scaffolding down a couple of days after we were there,” said Ruble.

KCKCC students and faculty talk about military service during Veterans Day event

KANSAS CITY, KAN. ----- Students, staff and faculty members who have or are currently serving in the U.S. military shared what being a veteran means to them during “Veterans Speak IV” Nov. 11 at Kansas City Kansas Community College.

Among the guest speakers were David Fuqua, United State Marine Corp., retired; Michelle “Leo” D’Entremont, United States Army; Renea Williams, U.S. Army; Emzley Donnell, U.S. Army; Kevin Beashore, United States Marine Corp. Reserves; Eric Shepherd, U.S. Navy and Dr. Ed Kremer, U.S. Army Reserves. The event served as a way for the KCKCC community to honor those who have served in the military.

“There is no greater love than the love a soldier has for his country,” said Ewa Unoke, associate professor of political science at KCKCC, who started the event four years ago. “There is no love that can compare to a citizen making the declaration ‘I pledge my blood to defend my country.’”

Each of the panelists took a few moments to share their experiences in the military. Introductions were followed by questions from Unoke, who served as moderator, as well as some questions from the audience. Among those who attended were several classes from KCKCC as well as faculty and staff members.

D’Entremont, a student at KCKCC studying for a paramedic certificate, said if community members want to thank a veteran, the best option is to simply do something.

“Do something to give back to your country. Be involved,” she said. “Pay attention to what is going on around you. Don’t say it in words. Say it in your actions.”

Cutline: Students, staff and faculty members were among the panelists at “Veterans Speak IV” Nov. 11. From left to right, front row: Renea Williams, Michelle “Leo” D’Entremont and David Fuqua. Back row: Kevin Beashore, Dr. Ed Kremer, Emzley Donnell and Eric Shepherd.

Wyandotte County Veterans Commemoration set for November 9

KANSAS CITY, KAN. --- The 13th Annual Wyandotte County Veterans Commemoration event will be held on Saturday, Nov. 9.

The Salvation Army Harbor Light Village, located at 67th and State Avenue, will host the event.

Check the flyer out below for more information:

One more reminder: Veterans Day celebration to be held tomorrow

Click the flyer for more information.

KCKCC to host Veteran's Day events

Kansas City Kansas Community College will celebrate Veterans Day with two programs on Monday, Nov. 12.

The third annual “Veterans Speak Program” will be held from 9-10 a.m. followed a 10 by the documentary, “American GI Forum.”

Both programs will be presented in the Intercultural Center and are open to the public without charge.

A panel of six U.S. Army, Navy and Air Force veterans from Desert Storm, Desert Shield and the Iraqi conflict will discuss their experiences while serving around the word in the defense of freedom in the “Veterans Speak Program.”

All are current students, faculty or staff members at KCKCC.

Sponsored by the Political Science Department, Students for Global Peace, Ralph Bunche Society, KCKCC Library and Intercultural Center, the panel will be moderated by Dr. Ewa Unoke, professor of Political Science. A question and answer question will follow the remarks.

Rudy Padilla, the Kansas City chapter commander of the American GI Forum, will present a 20-minute segment from the documentary “American GI Forum” at 10 a.m.

One of the Hispanic Americans’ most important but least known civil rights groups with more than 500 chapters across the U.S., the Forum dedicates its efforts to addressing issues relevant to veterans and their families, and moreover, the direct impacts on the Latino community in the areas of education, employment, political representation and health services.

The event is sponsored by the Student Organization of Latinos, International Student Organization and the Intercultural Center.

Wyandotte County War Memorials Tour tickets available

News Release

A bus tour of the Wyandotte County War Memorials will be held Friday, Nov. 9, from 8:15 a.m. - 12 p.m.

The tour will include stops at the World War II Bomber Builders, Rosedale Arch  Monument, the Korean / Vietnam Veterans Memorial of Wyandotte County, the Rosedale Memorial Arch and The Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall.

There will be tour guides and special speaker  providing the history and story of each memorial.

The bus will depart from and return to the Salvation Army Harbor Lights, 6723 State Avenue.

The bus tour is scheduled to coincide with the annual Veterans Day Commemoration, sponsored by the KCK Women's Chamber of Commerce, to be held on November 9, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Salvation Army Harbor Lights.

Bus tour participants will also be able to participate in the commemoration.

The bus tour is sponsored by the Kansas City Kansas Convention & Visitors Bureau, Wyandotte County Parks & Recreation and the Wyandotte County Historical Society & Museum.

Tickets are $10 in advance and may be purchased at the following locations:

• Kansas City Kansas Convention & Visitors Bureau, 901 N. 8th St. Suite 201 Kansas City, Kan.

• Wyandotte County Historical Society & Museum, 631 N. 126th St.  Bonner Springs, Kan.

• Wyandotte County Parks & Recreation, 5033 State Ave.  Kansas City, Kan.

For additional information on the tour, please contact the Kansas City Kansas Convention & Visitors Bureau at 913-321-5800.