Serving Proudly As The Voice Of Valley County Since 1913
Serving Proudly As The Voice Of Valley County Since 1913
Saco's Music Teacher Chelsea Quinones directs a choir composed of students from Saco and Hinsdale during a music program held for Veteran's Day on Monday. The Music Program was a combined effort between the two schools and was well attended by the two communities in Hinsdale's Gymnasium. Students pictured (L-R): Back Row: Madison Lamb, Brinley Borenson, Hazel Sones, Chase Albus, Cecelia Bell, Michael Ketchum, Mattea McColly, Deion Lefdahl, Jacob Bland, Teagan Erickson, Adam McClellan, Walker Albus, BaiLee McColly, Teonna Funk, CharLee McColly, Berkley Hillman; 3rd Row: Cathryn Bell, Ryan Jones, Royce Strobbe, Chloe Lamb, Delbert Sones, Josie Brown, Nathan Salveson, Isabella Gehrke, Preston Rutherford, Abby Yeska, Payton Smith, Abbi Killman, Jake Brown, Coy Bowman, Laytin Erickson; 2nd Row: Ainsley Erickson, Cody Lacock, A'Aligha Jones, Lily Earl, Jersey Sallee, Sloan Lefdahl, Sandra Sones, Blaine Downing, Marshall Caves, Cienna Strommen, Andrew Boucher, Audrey Bell, Emerson Downing, Margaret Bell, Cade Strommen, Layna Jones; Front Row: Reese Bowman, Townes Lefdahl, Bentley Borenson, Ava Schultz, Randy Hardman, Rhylee Martin-Kelley, Codi Donniaquo, Carter Pippin, Laynee Simpson, Kodi Boone, Ashton Smith, Austin Bourland, Nick Barnard, Blake Ozark, Addison Idler
Hinsdale and Saco Schools teamed up to put on quite the presentation for local Veterans Nov. 14. Held in Hinsdale's gymnasium, the two schools' bands and choirs performed patriotic songs and wowed the audience with their combined talents.
The veterans who showed up were treated like the VIP's they are. They were given front row seats, directly in front of the production. They were also given thank-you cards to mark their respective service and treated to refreshments after the performance.
Participants in the program took several opportunities to give praise to the veterans in attendance. The students took turns between songs expressing gratitude for the veterans and sacrifices made for our country.
Guest speaker Jim Tollefson, a US Navy Veteran, spoke to the audience about his time in the Navy during the Vietnam conflict. Tollefson recounted being stationed on an aircraft carrier, the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt, a ship which was nearly always in motion.
When the ship was decommissioned, Tollefson was also part of the decommissioning crew. The task was difficult for Tollefson, who had to watch the ship he'd called home being dismantled and sold for scrap.
Tollefson also spoke of his own personal war hero; his uncle, Bill Tollefson who served during World War II in Italy. His uncle Bill had been through three of the bloodiest campaigns in Europe during his tour of duty with the infantry, which included the fall of Mussolini and other atrocities that occurred in Italy during the war.
Tollefson also spoke of the reluctance a lot of the Veterans have from that era discussing what they have been through. Bill Tollefson's story of bravery in the face of brutality might have died with him, if not for the persistence of his children's curiosity about his experiences during the conflict.
The Veteran Day program in Hinsdale ended on a massive high note. We were treated to a powerful performance of "American Heart" with music teachers Josey Quinones from Hinsdale leading the 7-12-grades band, and Chelsea Quinones from Saco directing the elementary choir.
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