Some 840 Fort Atkinson High School students, along with members of the community and distinguished military guests on Friday observed “Rock Day.” The annually memorial observance, now in its 105th year, included seven student speakers, music performed by members of the high school music department, and the ceremonial placing of flags around a rock and plaque, which serve as the high school’s monument to Fort Atkinson’s fallen soldiers. The ceremony was held in the drop-off lane outside of the high school. Images from the event, taken by FAO photographer Kim McDarison, follow.
Members of the Fort Atkinson High School Music Department assemble in advance of Friday’s Rock Day ceremony. Led by high school music teacher Kiah Snow, the group practices several pieces that will be performed during the program.
Members of the chorus practice while band members wait their turn. The band performed Friday under the direction of high school music teacher Justin Steger.
A band student awaits her turn to practice while the chorus sings.
Students, grades 9-12, assemble outside on the high school grounds in advance of the ceremony.
Fort Atkinson High School Assistant Principal Adam Rousseau, at left, and School District of Fort Atkinson Superintendent Rob Abbott arrive at the Rock Day observance.
Five of six Fort Atkinson High School students sit as honored guests during the Rock Day event. Each of the six students upon graduation this year will be joining a branch of the military. They are, not necessarily in pictured order, Owen Blackwell, Emilio Calzadas Espino, Raul Diaz, Gavin Riley, and Marques Shipman, each of whom will be joining the Wisconsin Army National Guard, and Jacob Vergenz, who will be joining the United States Army.
Seven Rock Day high school speakers await their turn at the microphone. They are, not necessarily in pictured order, Class of 2024 President Rebecca Christ, Class of 2024 Secretary Mariana Gamez Garza, Class of 2024 Vice President Maren Selle, Class of 2025 President Korynne Kutz, Class of 2024 Treasurer Ava Stedman, Class of 2024 representative Langdon Eske, and Class of 2024 representative Sylbie Beers.
Fort Atkinson High School Assistant Principal Jeff Dye welcomes participants to the Rock Day observance.
Joel Osmundson, representing American Legion Post 166, seated, front row, from left; Betty Schelb, representing American Legion Auxiliary 166; Bill Imsland, representing the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1879; Dee Dee Carothers, representing the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary; Nancy Olsen, representing the Daughters of the American Revolution; Steve Swader, representing the Vietnam Veterans Chapter 409; Karen Swader, representing the Vietnam Veterans as an associate member, and Daniel Juday, representing the Disabled American Veterans, are among those participating Friday at Fort Atkinson High School during the Rock Day ceremony.
Karen Swader, representing the Vietnam Veterans as an associate member, from left, Daniel Juday, representing the Disabled American Veterans, and a member of the military who served Friday as an escort during the ceremonial events, stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.
Joel Osmundson, representing American Legion Post 166, from left; Betty Schelb, representing American Legion Auxiliary 166 and Bill Imsland, representing the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1879 stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.
At the podium, Fort Atkinson High School Class of 2024 President Rebecca Christ leads the Pledge of Allegiance.
Band director Justin Steger leads the band and chorus as they perform “The Folded Flag,” by Joseph M. Martin.
Fort Atkinson High School Class of 2024 Secretary Mariana Gamez Garza recites the “Rock Day History Address.”
Following an “introduction of presenters,” delivered by Fort Atkinson High School Class of 2024 Vice President Maren Selle, not pictured, American Legion Post 166 Commander Joel Osmundson places a cross on the Rock Day monument, a stone placed near the entrance of the high school bearing a plaque with the names of fallen soldiers.
Fort Atkinson High School Class of 2024 Vice President Maren Selle announces the name of each presenter before they are escorted by a member of the military to the Rock Day monument, where each places a memorial token of respect.
In the company of her military escort, Betty Schelb, representing American Legion Auxiliary 166, advances to the monument to place her token.
A panel of presenters await their turn to approach the Rock Day monument and place a memorial token of respect.
In the company of his military escort, Bill Imsland, representing the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1879, advances to the monument to place his token.
In the company of her military escort, Dee Dee Carothers, representing the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary, places her token.
Following the placement of her token, Nancy Olsen, representing the Daughters of the American Revolution, and her military escort salute and honor soldiers who have fallen.
Steve and Karen Swader, representing the Vietnam Veterans Chapter 409 and the Vietnam Veterans as an associate member, respectively, advance to the monument and jointly place a memorial token of respect.
Fort Atkinson High School Class of 2024 President Rebecca Christ delivers the “Rock Day Recognition Address.”
Fort Atkinson high school music teacher Kiah Snow leads the chorus as it performs.
Members of the chorus perform.
A band member listens to the speakers.
A band member waits as the chorus performs.
Students listen to the musical performances.
U.S. Army Sgt. Dakota Banik participates in the observance.
Fort Atkinson High School Class of 2025 President Korynne Kutz arrives at the podium. She, in conjunction with Class of 2024 President Rebecca Christ, not pictured, participate in the “Passing of the Memorial.”
Fort Atkinson High School Class of 2024 Treasurer Ava Stedman announces in recognition the names of each of six of her classmates who will, following graduation, be serving in the military.
At the podium, Fort Atkinson High School Class of 2024 representative Sylbie Beers conducts the “Placement of the Flags by Students Enlisting,” ceremony, during which five of the six classmates present who are enlisting in the military advance to the monument and place a flag in recognition of each fallen soldier listed on the plaque.
Fort Atkinson High School senior and military enlistee Owen Blackwell places several flags on the monument in honor of fallen soldiers.
Fort Atkinson High School senior and military enlistee Owen Blackwell offers a moment of respect to fallen soldiers after placing several flags on the monument.
Fort Atkinson High School senior and military enlistee Emilio Calzadas Espino places several flags in honor of fallen soldiers on the monument.
A military escort salutes as flags are placed on the monument.
Fort Atkinson High School senior and military enlistee Raul Diaz places several flags on the monument.
Fort Atkinson High School senior and military enlistee Marques Shipman places several flags on the monument.
Fort Atkinson High School senior and military enlistee Gavin Riley places several flags on the monument.
Fort Atkinson High School Class of 2024 representative Langdon Eske delivers the “History of Taps.”
U.S. Army Sgt. Dakota Banik carries the POW (Prisoner of War) flag.
Members of the honor guard offer a gun salute. They are, not necessarily in pictured order, Richard Miles, Tommy Freeman, Don Gross, Dwayne Riggs, and Bill Kirchmayer.
Students appear on the high school roof to sound Taps.
Fort Atkinson High School students Cal Tamblyn, at left, and Ashlyn Wadsworth sound Taps.
Fort Atkinson High School students Cal Tamblyn sounds Taps. The rendition concludes the Rock Day observance.
A plaque is adhered to the monument in recognition of fallen soldier Lance Cpl. Terry Beck, who was a U.S. Marine and K-9 handler during the Vietnam war. The soldier and his dog were killed in action in 1967.
Fort Atkinson High School’s “Rock Day” memorial, found near the school’s entrance, bears the following words: “This tree is dedicated to our soldiers and sailors who died in the World War. They died that freedom might not perish from the Earth.” The monument next lists the names of fallen soldiers who died during World War I. They are: Edwin Baldwin, Guy Black, Warner Boettcher, Wilbur Converse, Paul Florin, Edwin Frohmader, Henry Heese, Warren Longley, Walter Richards, and Arthur Sauer. The inscription continues: “Bequeathed in perpetuity to the members of each senior class of the high school who will preserve and care for it and thus keep green its branches in memory of those true sons of the republic who nurtured the tree of liberty with their blood.”