Cheryl Jonese
Contributing Writer
Two Pocahontas County High School students attended the October 15 Pocahontas County Commission meeting to present, for approval, a Proclamation to recognize Pocahontas County’s Active Duty Service Personnel and Veteran Service Members of the United States Military.
Bailey Zickefoose and Noah Nutter represented the PCHS Purple Star Military Pride Club and received full approval of the Proclamation.
The Proclamation designates “November 2024 as Military Veteran and Active Service Personnel Month and encourage citizens to increase their understanding and awareness of our veterans and Active Service Personnel and the commitment to our nation and its citizens, their service and sacrifice, particularly as we head into the holiday season.”
The Purple Star Military Club is a National Organization that awards Club status to schools who support Active Duty and Veteran Service members and the families and children of Active-Duty Service Personnel. Children are supported by activities that help with school transitions, recognizes the importance of military service and civic responsibility, builds community connections between schools, military service members and community organizations and increases avenues for ongoing communication between military connected families, schools and their community.
PCHS and all other Pocahontas County Schools received the Purple Star Award in 2022. Since that time, the PCHS Club has reached out to the Elementary and Middle schools to meet with and offer support to military connected students. In addition, PCHS has sent care packages to Pocahontas County’s Active-Duty members for the past two years and plan to do so again this year.
Donations are being accepted for the care packages. You may contact Aaron Pugh at aaron.pugh@k12.wv.us or Cheryl Jonese at cheryl. jonese@strongcommunities. org for more information or to donate.
“It’s a good thing to get behind, supporting the Veterans, Active Service Personnel, and the kids who are affected by it,” Bailey Zickefoose said. “To help do anything to give to those defending our country and serving, is worth doing.”