The City of Carmel honored veterans on Tuesday in a virtual Veterans Day Ceremony. Mayor Jim Brainard was joined by keynote speaker, former United States Air Force Thunderbird Pilot Major (Retired) Matt Modleski, Carmel American Legion Post 155; Carmel VFW Post 10003; along with performances by the Actors Theatre of Indiana, the Orchard Park Elementary School Choir and Cindy Ensign Baney. Event sponsors included American Structurepoint and Drs. Lauck & McLean Optometry & Eyewear.
The winners of the Veterans Day Poster and Essay Student Contest, sponsored by Indiana Members Credit Union, were also recognized during the virtual ceremony. Students from local elementary schools took part in the Poster Contest, while Middle School students participated in the Essay Contest. This year’s theme was “Thank You for Always Being There.”
Finalists for the poster contest were chosen by grade level from each participating school. Board members of the Carmel Arts Council selected one citywide winner in each grade. The winning posters were chosen based on best representation of the theme, focus on veterans and creativity. Photos of the winner with their winning poster were shared during the virtual program and each student was mailed a certificate of achievement from Mayor Brainard. A list of Carmel Veterans Day Poster Contest winners as well as images of their posters can be found at CarmelVeteransDay.org.
The winners of the “Thank You for Always Being There” Poster Contest are as follows:
- Kindergarten: Elle McMurray, West Clay Elementary
- 1st Grade: Rosemary Day, Smoky Row Elementary
- 2nd Grade: Charlize Sullivan, Towne Meadow Elementary
- 3rd Grade: Austin Bryant, Towne Meadow Elementary
- 4th Grade: Pia Anderson, Towne Meadow Elementary
- 5th Grade: Madison Bowser, Woodbrook Elementary
The panel of judges from veterans organizations chose the winning essays based on overall representation of the theme, focus on veterans, strength of message and proper use of grammar. Students were invited to record their winning essays, which were included in the virtual ceremony. A list of the Carmel Veterans Day Winning Essays can be found at CarmelVeteransDay.org.
The winners of the “Thank You for Always Being There” Essay Contest are as follows:
- 6th Grade: Alynn Davis, Clay Middle School
- 7th Grade: Claire Wolfgang, Clay Middle School
- 8th Grade: Carter Martin, Clay Middle School
Poster contest winners in grades K-5 received $50 each and essay contest winners in grades 6-8 received $100 each, courtesy of Indiana Members Credit Union.
“We like to provide the opportunity for children to be involved in the Veterans Day Ceremony so they can learn what service to our country entails,” Brainard said. “I was very impressed with the students and I appreciate the teachers in our community who included this program in their curriculum during these challenging times.”