Broken Bow Public Schools held the annual Patriot Day Program on Thursday, September 9 at the Custer County Courthouse. The morning program included students reading the 9/11 timeline, the star-spangled banner from the Broken Bow High School Band, a procession of active military personnel and families, Heart of America performance by the North Park 4th graders, God Bless America sing-a-long, and many other patriotic events.
Also featured during the program were military family speakers Teri Buhlmann and a Kathy Kugler message read by Jim Zlomke. Buhlmann spoke about her family and their desire to join the military to protect the freedoms that we enjoy. She noted that her husband served in the Marine Corps prior to 9/11 then reenlisted after 9/11. Buhlmann said three of her sons, daughter-in-law, and grandson are all currently serving in the military and said, “I am very proud of every single of them!”
Kugler’s message focused on the history of 9/11 as all of the students who attended the event were not alive at the time of the attacks. She implored the students to be grateful for the sacrifices made and to be respectful and supportive to the families that lost their loved ones in the wars. She wrote, “The wounds may have happened before your time, but you can still be a part of the healing.”
