Steptoe holds Veterans Day program

STEPTOE - The Steptoe School invited the public to attend an assembly to honor veterans on Thursday, Nov. 9 at 10:30 a.m.

The event coordinator, Diana King, said the event brought in approximately 100 people, and they presented 14 veterans with a quilt of valor.

King said every year, she finds the response they get from veterans heartwarming. "They're very appreciative of what we do for them as far as giving them quilts," she said.

Also in attendance at the event was a representative from Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodger's office, Military and Veterans Liaison Doug Huff, who said it was the first assembly he's been able to attend. "It was fantastic. I've been wanting to go to one for a long time and finally got the chance to go," Huff said, noting that there were times he had tears welling up.

Huff said that the children singing reached him as an Air Force veteran from the Gulf War period. "Especially when they sang the different songs of the service branches," he said, noting that when they started the Air Force song, he stood up with all the Air Force veterans, and all the branches stood up at their respective songs. "The children stood out to me, and the people standing up for their service song gave me a lot of pride."

King also said that the kid's program was great and well-prepared. "They have a very good program. "You can tell that the kids are into it with the singing and the little parts they read," she said.

King mentioned that when the children sang each military branch song, that was the first time that veterans stood up for each. "When Doug got up and talked, he saluted all the veterans," King said, noting it was nice having him there.

"One of the other vets, when he was talking, asked all the veterans in the crowd to stand up," King said, noting that many of them had received quilts and a lot hadn't.

Huff said that when the veterans received the quilts of valor, they stood up and talked about their service, which meant a lot to him. "Several of them were emotional, fighting back tears," he said, noting that it was wonderful to see them getting recognition.

Huff said that King and her husband did great with the program, presenting the old military memorabilia and recognizing the veterans.

King said she is constantly looking for veterans to honor with the Quilts of Valor program, especially the Vietnam vets, and it meant a lot to see the veterans talk directly to the children about how important it is to serve their country.

King said eight people approached her to ask how to get somebody they knew a quilt. "The veterans don't have to be here in Colfax, Oakesdale, or Garfield," she said, noting that they could be in New York and Hawaii, and anyone could get her their information to put on the website to contact veterans in other states.

The quilts of valor is a national foundation started in 2003 that has presented 362,564 quilts, King said, adding that if anyone wants to send her a nomination, they can send it to lydedi44@yahoo.com.