Firth High School nationally honored for annual Veterans Day Program

FIRTH — Every year Firth High School honors veterans with one of the largest Veterans Day Programs in the state. This year, veterans honored the High School for their efforts.

Firth High School’s Veterans Day Program on Thursday, Nov. 11, featured music from the Community Orchestra at Firth, military veteran speakers, plaques presentations to veterans organizations and 120 individual veterans.

The High School also gave veterans roses and vials of sand from both Iwo Jima and Omaha Beach. The National American Legion honored Firth High School with a plaque for the school’s continuous efforts to recognize veterans.

“Even though you are a small school, you have done more for veteran recognition than I have seen throughout the state. Congratulations and job well done,” Past American Legion Idaho State Commander Eugene Brown said while presenting the plaque to Firth High School.

Firth High School science teacher Stew Portela and High School seniors Tara Butler and Hannah Christensen were responsible for putting on the program. Bulter’s and Hannah’s involvement in organizing the program was part of their senior project.

“I think it’s so awesome that Firth does this,” Christensen told Community Pioneer.

Senator Mike Crapo’s office also recognized Firth High School by awarding the school an American flag that flew on 9/11 2001. Navy veteran Ross Carroll, Army veteran Bill Keith and Army veteran Al Hicks presented the flag on behalf of Crapo’s office.

“Firth High School continues, and has for years, to honor the 1st Amendment of the Constitution,” Keith said during the presentation of the flag.

Speakers included Navy veteran Ross Carroll, United States Marine Corps veteran Darrel Homer, Cpt. Brian Hopkins, Doug Hymas and Nic Transtrum.

“I loved Nic Transtrum. His speech was incredible. He challenged each of us to give back and he did it in his own special way that just really got everyone involved,” Christensen told Community Pioneer.

The program finished with the Community Orchestra at Firth playing each of the military branch themes. With each theme, the veterans from the different branches stood while Firth High School students handed each of them a rose.

“This was the best assembly I have ever seen and I have been to many schools throughout the state,” Brown told Community Pioneer. “Covering the state for two years, I got to go to everything. This one was the best one I’ve ever seen.”