Every year, the Cashton School District invites a guest speaker from Fort McCoy to address the crowd for Veterans Day.
Due to the federal government shutdown, it made it more difficult for the district to book the usual uniformed orator, and instead a familiar face to students stepped up to fill the role.
“One of our very own staff members stepped forward without hesitation to ensure that our Veterans Day program could still carry a powerful message,” said middle & high school principal Jennifer Butzler while introducing guest speaker Lacy Lucey. “She graciously volunteered to speak today because she believes deeply in connecting with veterans in our own lives and understanding the stories behind their service.”
Lucey grew up in Wauzeka, Wisconsin and has been teaching in Cashton since 2015. Her speech centered around her grandfather, “one of her favorite veterans”, Fay McCullick.
Lucey said after basic training, her grandfather was sent to Africa and then Italy in the middle of World War II, in 1942, and was taught to operate and fixed amphibious vehicles, also known as “ducks”.
“Some of you may have ridden the duck boats in Wisconsin Dells, and those are exactly what he drove and worked on during the war,” said Lucey. “They weren’t used for sightseeing back then. They were right in the middle of everything.”
Lucey then recalled some of her grandfather’s close calls while on battlefields in war-torn Europe.
“His duck was loaded with cannons headed straight to the front lines,” said Lucey.
It was then that McCullick’s amphibious transportation was struck by ammo from a German tank.
“Imagine driving a giant vehicle full of ammunition across enemy territory and being hit by a tank,” said Lucey. “On another mission, his duck hit a landmine and the entire back end was blown off, and he was lucky enough to tell the story.”
McCullick ended up serving two years in Italy and earned four bronze stars. But Lucey says that being in World War II didn’t define her grandfather.
“As proud as he was to be a veteran, his identity wasn’t only about war,” said Lucey. “He was a farmer’s kid from Wisconsin. A husband. A dad. A grandpa. And a man who loved hunting and fishing so much that I almost feel like those things run through my family’s DNA.”
Lucey continued to described her grandfather as she knew him: a man who loved watching the news, ate ice cream with chocolate sauce and walnuts, and never missed a Brewer’s baseball game.
Lucey then talked about visits to the VA hospital in Madison.
“After many visits there, I realized my grandpa, who was a strong, funny, stubborn, story-loving man, was surrounded by other veterans doing the exact same thing,” said Lucey. “And every person in that place had a story. Every single one had suffered, sacrificed, and carried memories most of us will never fully understand.”
Lucey then explains the meaning of Veterans Day.
“Veterans Day isn’t about uniforms, flags, and military titles,” said Lucey. “It’s about people. Veterans are not only what they did in war, but who they are in life.”
Lucey expounded on the importance of connecting with veterans, saying that “many of them have stories, some funny, some unbelievable, and some painful. And most of them will share those stories with you if you just ask.”
Lucey then posed a challenge to the students to get to know a veteran.
“Ask them about their favorite story, not just from their service but from their life,” said Lucey.
“Because when you know their stories, the gratitude becomes personal. The service becomes real. And Veterans Day becomes so much more than just a ceremony in the gym,” said Lucey. “It becomes a reminder that our freedom has faces.”
Lucey wrapped up her speech with a thank and a promise to all veterans to keep sharing their stories.
Before and after Lucey’s speech, Nadine Carpenter of the Cashton Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary presented awards to three students for the Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen essay contests.
Aubrey Weber received first place for her audio essay in the Voice of Democracy contest, while middle schoolers Mya Dahl received first and Ivy Schmitz received second in the Patriot’s Pen contest.
Weber, as part of the Senior Student Council Representative group that includes Gabby Hyatt and Drew Butzler who took turns emceeing the event, also led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance.
The high school band, directed by Matt Muraski, performed the National Anthem. Later in the program, the high school choir, directed by Levi Magnuson, sang “Calling My Children Home”. Just before the gun salute and playing of Taps, the middle and high school choir joined together to sing “America the Beautiful”.
The ceremony opened with a welcome from Butlzer and the Honor Guard of Dickman-Spaeth VFW Post 8584 and Gunwald-Overgard American Legion Post 445 presenting and posting the flags up front.
