Concert dedicated to area veterans

Published 12:00 am Thursday, April 3, 2003

Ellis Middle School sixth graders created an American flag with their red, white and blue shirts Wednesday as they sang an encore concert of "This is America."

"For the heroes, for the patriots, for the soldiers, for all the pioneers," the students sang. "I will always be an American."

The concert was dedicated to current and veteran military personnel, who received free admission to the half-hour concert.

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The students first performed the concert March 27, but because of a good response, the school put it on one last time in honor of the military.

Jerry Simonson's granddaughter, a choir member, invited him to the performance. He served in the Navy and was stationed off the coast of Vietnam in the late 1960s. He thought the students did well.

"I enjoyed it," he said. "It was a pretty nice program."

Choir member Colin Clennon's mother, his second cousin and great aunt came to see him perform. His older brother has been stationed in the Persian Gulf before, but is currently a Navy recruiter in Indiana, said Marian Clennon, his mother.

Albert Landherr, commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1216, was invited to the concert by the school.

"It was very good," he said. "They did a great job. I just liked that the teachers are teaching a little patriotism."

The concert was a part of last week's Freedom Week for sixth graders. The students learned about their rights and freedoms as a United States citizen and heard speakers on the meanings of freedom. During the week, they also collected supplies for the 101st Airborne Division, who is fighting in Iraq.

The 100-member choir has been rehearsing the patriotic tribute since Christmas time, said choral director Connie Nelson. Little did the school know that the United States would be at war when Freedom Week rolled around, she said. The activities give the students something to channel their thoughts about the about the war, Nelson said.

"Music allows them to emote," she said.

Cari Quam can be reached at 434-2235 or by e-mail at cari.quam@austindailyherald.com