CHBS Yellow Ribbon Week


Nov. 10-14 was the 4th annual Yellow Ribbon Week at CHBS. It was a special week filled with many activities to honor members of our Armed Forces in our school and church family.

One activity that took place during the week was the selling of Yellow Ribbon t-shirts, bracelets, and pencils to raise money to purchase calling cards to send to service men and women currently serving in Iraq. Our shirts were designed by student design collaboration from Paige Alley and Ranya Kakkish. The calling cards that were purchased from these sales will be sent to military personnel in time for Christmas. Every school family member who is serving in the military that we have an address for will receive a calling card.



There was a special chapel service on Nov. 12 to honor the military personnel within our school family. Our theme this year was “What is a Hero”. Many members of various branches of the military arrived in their uniforms to be honored at the service. The program began with the Presentation of Colors by the Girl Scout Junior Troop 8082 and Brownie Troop 8081. Kirsten Sayers, a CHCA student, sang the national anthem.





A.B. Gradthum, US Marine Corp, retired and John Gradthum, US Marine Corp active duty were the guest speakers for the service. They spoke about their time in service both serving while at war. Josh spoke of how our community treats the military differently now than when his dad, A.B., returned from Vietnam. They both thanked CHBS for honoring the military.





Following a video presentation of our school military family members, a video tribute was played for Army Sergeant Michael O’Shea. Sgt. O’Shea volunteered the first two years of Yellow Ribbon Week. Last year the week before Yellow Ribbon Week, Sgt. O’Shea was killed in action serving his country. Mrs. DeAnne Green, Sgt. O’Shea’s sister, spoke about him and played a video about his time in the military. She presented Mrs. Bass with $750 her family had collected to purchase calling cards in his honor. Everyone who attended chapel received a prayer pamphlet which included the names of family and friends of CHBS students that are/were serving in the military.

We had a writing contest this year for the students to define in 50 words or less what a hero is. Our top 6 winners read their entries aloud at Chapel. They are Lauryn Jones, Jarren Mason, Cody Poiroux, Haleigh Spragg, Brandon Wildman, and Blake Williamson. All writing entries will be copied and sent along with the calling cards to our military in Iraq.

Thank you to everyone who made Yellow Ribbon Week at CHBS a success. Thank you especially to Erica Bass who directed this awesome mission project. Please remember to pray every day for all the men and women who serve our country's military.

"For my eyes are toward Thee, O God, the Lord; In Thee I take refuge; do not leave me defenseless. Keep me from the jaws of the trap which they have set for me, And from the snares of those who do iniquity. Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I pass by safely. " (Psalm 141:8-10)