Last fall the Aberdeen High School Class of 1966 held our 50-year class reunion. There, we decided to honor Vietnam veterans by sponsoring a scholarship for graduating seniors of AHS this year.

In early June, four members of the graduating class of 2017 will receive scholarships at the awards ceremony. Two students have each earned $1,000 and two more have each earned $250.

We thank all of those students who interviewed a Vietnam vet, wrote about his experiences in the service and then reflected on joining the military and how the military changes men/women. The students were also encouraged to visit our local VFW and see the wall of pictures of fallen men/women from our area. Terry Holderman has been working passionately to complete this wall to honor all service people who gave the ultimate during war — their lives.

This Memorial Day we would like to honor to all men and women who have served their country proudly. We would also like to give a big shout out to the Vietnam veterans who gave their time to be interviewed by the seniors: Jim Daly, Steve Douglass, Terry Holderman, Rick Lovely and Vern Spatz. These men were all patriotic and showed that — by serving their country during a very unpopular war.

May they now receive the respect they deserved 50 years ago.

Kathy (Mullen) McGuire

AHS Class of 1966 Scholarship Committee