Veterans Day audience hears from CCS graduate in Kuwait

    All K-12 students at Chase County Schools, local veterans and others from the community had a special treat at last Thursday’s Veterans Day program in the Longhorn gym.
    Jim Sims, a 2019 graduate of CCS, answered questions via Facetime about his current service in Kuwait with the Army Reserves.
    His visit was part of the annual program presented by the school’s Future Business Leaders of America chapter.
    Sponsor Sandy O’Neil said they were able to set up the conversation with Sims after visiting with Rob Browning, who was part of a veterans panel for the program. FBLA members asked him a series of questions.
    Sims was also an FBLA member while at CCS, and O’Neil thought it would be a good addition to their program.
    Sims served as a member of the Imperial Volunteer Fire Department while still in high school here, and is carrying on that service in Kuwait, where he said he’d just arrived earlier last week.
    He is serving as a firefighter in Kuwait, he said, working 24 on/24 off shifts. His duties include being on standby for all types of fire calls and handling evacuation when necessary.
    He said the reason he joined the Army was simple.
    “It wasn’t long ago that I was sitting in those seats there for the Veterans Day program, and had a lot of respect for the speakers,” he said.
    He said the community here has many veterans, “and it was something I wanted to do.”
    While temperatures can reach 120 degrees during Kuwait’s summers, he said it was comfortable last Thursday where it was approaching 8 p.m. in Kuwait.
    He said in the short time he’s been there, the conditions “are pretty nice.” Their rooms have air-conditioning, and the food’s “not bad,” he said. He spends most of his free time in the gym or taking classes.
    The program also featured a Q & A session with three local veterans—Browning, Mark Berry and Armando Villarreal.
    FBLA members Emmitt Zuege and Tristan Nordhausen posed several questions.
    The panel answered questions on why they joined, where they served and what were the joys and challenges they faced while in the service.
    When asked what they would tell youths considering serving in the military, the trio had a variety of answers.
    Villarreal said it can provide money for college, but he encouraged students to do some research first.
    Browning said the military is a great option for youths uncertain about their futures.
    Berry said the military helps youths in the “growing up” time of their lives, and also noted that much of military service supports education.
    The program included the introduction of nearly 20 local veterans who attended, and a video that listed local veterans names with photos.
    “Freedom” by Martha Cothren was read by FBLA members Jerzee Milner, Sophie Fiedler and Keirsten Colton, while patriotic songs were sung by the 4th and 8th grade classes.
    CCS senior Morgan Peterson, who placed first in this year’s Voice of Democracy contest, read her essay.
    Members of the VFW Color Guard advanced and retired the colors, and CCS senior Delaney Krutsinger closed the program with “Taps.”
    The Missing Man Table was set up in the middle of the gym floor, a striking remembrance of those who’ve given their lives in military service.    
    O’Neil said area veterans who would like to take part in future panels can contact her by calling the school or by sending her an email: soneil@chasecoun tyschools.org.