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Hannibal, MO —
Holy Family Catholic Church was packed Tuesday morning.
But this wasn’t an ordinary Mass for students, teachers and few of the regulars that make it outside of Sunday.
This was something special. Something honorable. Something that showed appreciation.
The celebration was special because it honored local veterans for their service in the United States military.
“I thought it was pretty terrific,” John Rolsen, a U.S. Air Force Veteran, said. “One of the girls from school here asked me to come because she knew I was a veteran.”
Gospel hymns were put aside just for today. Instead American ballad’s like God Bless the U.S.A and God Bless America were sung amongst the congregation. The service was held in conjunction with Catholic Schools Week and students got to boast country colors by wearing red, white and blue apparel.
There were several St. Louis Cardinals T-shirts, a few Hannibal Pirates hoodies, some blue Cookie Monster shirts which gave the church an even splash of patriotic colors.
“I was very, very impressed for several reasons,” Hannibal Mayor Roy Hark, a Navy veteran, said. “First of all because I graduated from the Catholic high school and the grade school, and then coming back over the years, it brings a tear to your eye to watch these young people how they get into everything that they do and how caring they are.”
When the Mass finished, a presentation was given about the Great River Honor Flight; a program that transports veterans to the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C.
“I think it is important that they understand at this school what the service is about,” Rolsen said, “that it is an honorable profession.”
Students presented a check that totaled $900 to the Great River Honor Flight. All of the funds were raised through a bake sale held at the school.
“They’re a caring group of young people, they really care bout what’s going on,” Hark said. “And to see them today singing to the veterans, and doing everything they were doing, I was sitting there wiping my eyes. I’m glad I was in the back ‘cause I’d have been embarrassed in front.”
Holy Family Catholic Church was packed Tuesday morning.
But this wasn’t an ordinary Mass for students, teachers and few of the regulars that make it outside of Sunday.
This was something special. Something honorable. Something that showed appreciation.
The celebration was special because it honored local veterans for their service in the United States military.
“I thought it was pretty terrific,” John Rolsen, a U.S. Air Force Veteran, said. “One of the girls from school here asked me to come because she knew I was a veteran.”
Gospel hymns were put aside just for today. Instead American ballad’s like God Bless the U.S.A and God Bless America were sung amongst the congregation. The service was held in conjunction with Catholic Schools Week and students got to boast country colors by wearing red, white and blue apparel.
There were several St. Louis Cardinals T-shirts, a few Hannibal Pirates hoodies, some blue Cookie Monster shirts which gave the church an even splash of patriotic colors.
“I was very, very impressed for several reasons,” Hannibal Mayor Roy Hark, a Navy veteran, said. “First of all because I graduated from the Catholic high school and the grade school, and then coming back over the years, it brings a tear to your eye to watch these young people how they get into everything that they do and how caring they are.”
When the Mass finished, a presentation was given about the Great River Honor Flight; a program that transports veterans to the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C.
“I think it is important that they understand at this school what the service is about,” Rolsen said, “that it is an honorable profession.”
Students presented a check that totaled $900 to the Great River Honor Flight. All of the funds were raised through a bake sale held at the school.
“They’re a caring group of young people, they really care bout what’s going on,” Hark said. “And to see them today singing to the veterans, and doing everything they were doing, I was sitting there wiping my eyes. I’m glad I was in the back ‘cause I’d have been embarrassed in front.”
