By Dawn Pearson

The City of Carmel held its annual Veterans Day ceremony Nov. 9 to honor local service men and women at the Tarkington Theatre at The Palladium. The theme was “Heroes Among Us.”

The event also included recognition of winners of the annual Veterans Day poster and essay contests from Carmel Clay Schools.

After the Presentation of Colors by VFW/American Legion Honor Guard and the Carmel Fire Dept. Pipes and Drums, Rev. George Davis, U.S. Army veteran and Carmel Police Dept. chaplain, gave the invocation. Speakers included Sue Finkam, Carmel City Council president; Marianne Black, from Sen. Joe Donnelly’s office; CPD Sgt. Todd Rush of the U.S. Air Force Reserves; and Steven McDanield, commander of Carmel VFW Post 10003. Retired U.S. Army Sgt. Ronald Eaton was the keynote speaker.

Black told the crowd that a bill has been passed marking March 29 as National Vietnam Veterans Day.

McDanield encouraged veterans to let their voices be heard and “to fill up the State House with vets in downtown Indianapolis and meet face-to face with representatives on Jan. 9, 2018,” which is Veterans Day at the Statehouse.

Veterans were presented with a special pin in recognition of their service.

POSTER CONTEST WINNERS

Kindergarten

Charlotte Ho, Smoky Row Elementary

First grade

Gabriella Goldberg, Towne Meadow Elementary

Second grade

Blake Brauer, Towne Meadow Elementary

Third grade

Kathryn Roth, Smoky Row Elementary

Fourth grade

Aashrith Goli, Towne Meadow Elementary

Fifth grade

Aleksa Aiello, Carmel Elementary.

ESSAY CONTEST WINNERS

Sixth-grade winners

Melaina Munson, Clay Middle School, and Emily Switzer, Creekside Middle School

Seventh grade

Valeria Colmenarex and Jordan Seigel, Clay Middle School

Eighth grade

Brianna Guntz and Maddie Tuttle, Clay Middle School