Each year, three junior students from Baker High School are asked to repeat famous words from history’s past at the Memorial Day Parade Commemoration ceremony at Riverview Cemetery. The works have been chosen for their message of remembrance for those who sacrificed their lives and provide a solemn backdrop for the ceremony’s traditions of the laying of wreaths and taps being played. Each work also marks our history with war — Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address and General John Logan’s Orders for the Civil War, and John McCrae’s In Flanders Field from World War I. Students are chosen for their of level engagement in United States history class and their interest in current events. They are also selected based on the qualities that make them role models for the younger community of students; politeness and kindness, modesty of their accomplishments and curiosity in the pursuit of knowledge.
Renny Simone: Gettysburg Address
What are your aspirations for the future?
Whatever path I choose to take, I want to live a life of service to other people. I have had advantages, the magnitude of which I can never truly grasp, and it is important to me that I do everything I can to bring those advantages to those lacking them.
What is your favorite subject in school?
English is my favorite subject. Reading is essential to learning, and writing is the most effective means of communication for me.
Interests and activities outside of school?
Outside of school, I run cross country and track, I play piano and I am involved in theater.
What does Memorial Day mean to you?
Memorial Day is a day for the remembrance and mourning of those lost in warfare, as well as a reminder of the enduring necessity of finding peaceful solutions whenever possible in order to move toward a more stable world and avoid the taking of lives, American or otherwise.
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Joshua Stanton: Logan’s Orders
What are your aspirations for the future?
I wish to serve in the Marines as an officer. Also I would like to go to college for auto tech or study brokerage to be on Wall Street.
What is your favorite subject in school?
My favorite has always been social studies because I’ve also found it enjoyable and found in the information to be interesting.
Interests and activities outside of school?
I play football and lacrosse. I have been selected to be one of Baker’s delegates for Boys State.
What does Memorial Day mean to you?
Memorial Day is a day to remember all of the sacrifices people have made for our freedom. All the men and women who have served were willing to give it all and then some, so we could live our lives freely.
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Melissa Henderson: In Flanders Field
What are your aspirations for the future?
My dream job is to be either an animator or a concept artist. Doing something in the field of graphic art where so many people would love or appreciate your work is admirable, and I’d especially like the animation field because I would be able to make noticeable change and influence the world.
What is your favorite subject in school?
Drawing and painting, creative writing, U.S. history and English. I like to read and create and learn from the past. These are the classes I look forward to.
Interests and activities outside of school?
I’m an artist and I enjoy both traditional and digital art. I like to support content creators and draw inspiration from them. I also enjoy reading up on psychology and beliefs, or at least the ones important to me. I also do things like watch movies (critically!), sew and play video games.
What does Memorial Day mean to you?
My family has a history of military experience, coming from my father and grandfather. Most recently, my brother graduated from the Marines just a few weeks ago. To me, Memorial Day is about recognizing the brave men and women who helped shape this country into what it is today, and assuring the U.S. as a truly free country, meaning no forced belief systems or exclusion of races. This is the dream that our founding fathers built the foundation to and Memorial Day helps recognize those who helped make the dream a reality.
