December 21, 2020 – West Bend, WI – Students from St. John’s Lutheran School in West Bend gathered at the Old Courthouse Square on Friday, December 18 to participate in a wreath-laying ceremony.
American Legion veteran James Maersch and veteran and Dist. 1 alderman John Butschlick worked with the students to present the colors.
The program was about 15 minutes and included a presentation of six US Military Service Flags, representing each branch of the Military, including the new Space Force branch.
The laying of the wreath was followed by prayers from various students who focused on expressing their appreciation to Veterans and current service men and service woman.
School administrator, Jim VanDellen then led a closing prayer. VanDellen has two sons currently serving in the military.
Student prayers are posted below.
6th Grade:
Cole Braeger
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you to all those who have served in the military, please bless them for their service. Their commitment to our country is something so great and I know something so great is only something that You can bless. Please grant all of our veterans Your peace. Let Your Holy Spirit show all of us love, and especially how to love and appreciate those who sacrifice for us every day.
In Jesus’ holy name, Amen.
Charlotte Grande
Dear Lord, thank You for all the brave souls that would join the military. Please be with all those families who have lost some loved ones because of Wars and battles. Thank you for all who are fighting for us and risking their lives to help our country. And thank you for my grandpa Fred and thank you that you can be retired and healthy. Amen
7th Grade:
Maddie Hesse
Dear God,
Thank you for all of the people across the country that risk their lives for my freedom everyday.
Thank you for the selfless people that fight for freedom.
Thank you for their service.
Help all of us to appreciate them. Help all of us to remember them and honor them.
Help all of us to learn about them.
Thank you for them, Thank you for their service,
Amen
Sam Peterson:
Dear God,
Thank you for everyone that serves our country and that helps keep us safe. Thank you to all of the veterans who have served and lost their lives for us. Please be with their families and help us honor and remember them. Please keep everyone who is currently serving safe and know that we respect all they do for our country.
In Your name, we pray,
amen.
Ava Ashenfelter
Thank you so much for putting these service members into the world so that we can have freedom. Thank you for giving them the strength and bravery to protect our country and the others in service. Thank you to the people who have given up their lives for us so that we can live every day in freedom and freedom of religion so that we can praise You. Help us to appreciate them every day that they know how much we care for them. Help them to know that you’re always there for them and with them every second. In Your name, we pray, Amen.
8th Grade:
Avery Uebersetzig
Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for the opportunity to do Wreaths aAross America. Thank you for these soldiers who have served to protect our country, and have risked their lives. Please keep them and their families safe and healthy during this time of Covid-19. Thank you for being with them in their time of service, and please let them have a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year.
Amen.
Lincoln Bechler
Dear God, Heavenly Father, I thank You for these people that have served our country. Thank you for sending them off to war, away from their families, to risk their lives for our nation. These people are true heroes and thank you for making them brave and confident, because it must take guts to be in the army at all. Lord, please be with anyone serving right now, help them to remain safe and to return to their families safely. In Your name I pray, Amen.