Community

Annual Veterans Day assembly to come to Renovo Elementary

The Renovo Elementary School will host the annual Veterans Day Assembly Program on Wednesday, Nov. 11. The yearly event organized by Patricia Wilson and hosted on the Bucktail Campus will begin at 9 a.m. The theme of the assembly this year is "250 Years of Protecting and Defending Our Nation."

The public is invited to attend.

The event has become a staple and the biggest Veteran’s Day event held in western Clinton County. In addition to triumphantly celebrating all veterans, with an emphasis placed on area vets, the two-hour-plus event serves as a historical educational experience and an introduction to Patriotism for the entire Bucktail and Renovo Elementary student body.

Hosts for the assembly this year are Emma Getz, 2026 Miss Bucktail, and Kassidy Lovell, the 2026 Miss Laurel Representative.

This year the guest speaker will be Reverend Harold "Dutch" Rinker, Pastor of the Zion Lutheran Church in Renovo, a Retired Lieutenant of the Pennsylvania State Police after 25 years of service and a U.S. Air Force veteran, having served as a Military Dog Handler in numerous places including the Operation Just Cause and Operation Desert Shield/Storm campaigns.

Mike Poorman, Bucktail Campus Assistant Principal, and also a veteran, will be introducing two former Bucktail students and 2025 graduates who will be making a virtual appearance, Specialist Mattisyn Mason and Specialist Lily Sporny. They are both Combat Medics, members of the PA National Guard who are currently attending college.

The Bucktail Middle/High School Band and Choir will be performing several songs under the direction of Abby Novak, Bucktail Campus Band Instructor/Director. Local favorites, James Cozzi, will be singing "If You are Reading This," a song made popular by Tim McGraw, and Erica Dorman, who will be singing the song "Some Gave All," a song made popular by Billy Ray Cyrus.

Daniel Heiser, sixth grade teacher at Renovo Elementary, will be introducing the Renovo Elementary teachers and their students as they perform live this year honoring our veterans. The Bucktail Yearbook under the direction of Lindsay Kalbach, Yearbook Advisor and Enrichment Teacher at Bucktail Middle and Senior High School, will be presenting a video thanking our veterans.

Continuing with tradition, the 11th hour Ceremony will follow, with 8th grader Aaron Probst playing the 11 drumbeats, with the Unfurling of the American Flag by the Bucktail Cheerleaders under the direction of Marissa Getz and Mandy Ditty. Aaron Probst will then render a rendition of the singing of the National Anthem, which will be followed by the playing of TAPs by Band Director Abby Novak.

Bucktail Campus Principal James Poleto will conclude the assembly thanking area veterans for their service. Refreshments will follow from Mrs. Dufour's Family and Consumer Science Class in the elementary school lobby.