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By Carey Reeder | Managing Editor

Isabella High School held its annual Veterans Day Program inside the auditorium on Nov. 8 to recognize the sacrifices made by those who served in the United States military. The program is presented by the Isabella High School Historical Society each year with its officers taking the reins and planning the program from top to bottom.

The program began with Lily Porter’s rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” followed by the invocation by Rev. Jerry Harrison. With veterans in attendance on the front row, IHS Historical Society President Bryce Masone welcomed the guests and thanked them for coming.

The program featured a touch of the arts as Rhonda Littleton sang “America the Beautiful,” followed by Laliyanna Wilson’s poem “For the Veterans” that thanked them for their sacrifices.

After a video compiled of Isabella students and staff thanking veterans, IHS Historical Society Secretary Alexis Joiner welcomed the guest speaker for the program — veteran Nick Burnett.

Burnett is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, and is currently a narcotics detective for the Calera Police Department. Burnett’s message to the crowd was the importance of service, and he recalled the first time in his life when he first took a role in service while still in grade school. He graduated from Chilton County High School in 2006, and that desire to serve continued as he joined the Marines shortly after.

“At Parris Island, I was greeted by some very friendly people they called drill instructors, and they welcomed me with open arms,” Burnett said.

He completed basic training, and was an infantry soldier seeing action in Iraq, starting with his first deployment in 2007 for seven months. He returned to the states after his tour, met his current wife and got married, and then was back on his second tour in 2008 before finishing his enlistment in 2010 and returning to Chilton County. Upon his return, Burnett entered the police academy, graduated from there and worked his way through the ranks to his current role in Calera. Most recently, he was elected as the new Chilton County Circuit Clerk on March 5 during the Primary Election and will assume office in January, putting a nice bow on his mission to serve.

The program concluded with the recognition of the military branches, and the standing of the veterans in attendance during their branch’s anthem.

IHS Historical Society sponsor Tom McCall raved about the program after its conclusion, commending the students for a job well done. McCall himself enjoys helping put on the program, and it gives himself a sense of pride from his personal experience with veterans in his life.

“I have not served a day in the military, but my dad did, my wife’s father did and more,” McCall said. “I was brought up on the idea of service for your country, being patriotic and being loyal.”

Burnett and the other veterans in attendance were treated to a reception in the IHS library following the program.

 

2024 Isabella High School Historical Society Cabinet

President: Bryce Masone

Vice President: Daniela Dominguez

Secretary: Alexis Joiner

Treasurer: Olivia Oglesby

Historians: Eliza Lovett & Sara Thomas

Technology & Publicity: Jimmie Sosa