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Show Veterans Are Honored In Escalante ESCALANTE "It was the most moving Veterans Day celebration I have ever attended," said Escalante resident Harriet Priska of Monday's ceremonies held at the Escalante Cemetery. Priska represented the Daughters of the American Revolution at the special event officiated by Vernon Spencer. The ceremonies featured five Escalante High School students dressed in uniforms representing various branches of the armed services during previous conflicts: Garrett Cottam wore his grandfather's WWII uniform. Doyle Cottam had been a first sergeant over 700 men in the 7th Division in the Pacific Theater where he was awarded the Purple Heart. Ryan Cottam wore Arthur Cottam's Army Infantry uniforrm from the Vietnam War and Garred Lyman wore Thurman Mirchell's Army Infantry uniform from when he served as a sergeant in Alaska during the Korean Conflict Dustin Shakespear wore his grandfather Vemon Spencer's WWII Air Force uniform when Spencer served as a private in the South Pacific as a flying crewman. Jerred Smith wore a classic bell bottom Navt uniform that had been worn by James Cook, Seaman First Class. Vernon Spencer was dressed in his father's WWI doughboy . uniform, complete with metal helmet. Andrew Spencer carried a 30-cal. Springfield rifle and Vernon Spencer demonstrated the weapon to the students of Escalante Elementary, who were gathered at the cemetery for the ceremonies, he also answered their questions. Hyrum Coleman, who served as the representative of the local Veterans of Foreign Wars chapter, assisted by Frank Coleman, led participants in the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag, a two-gun salute, and Mary Ellen Coleman played a tape recording of "Taps." The young students concluded the ceremony by placing a small American flag on the grave of each veteran who had served his country, with two flags placed on the grave of those who had died while serving their country. V. |