Cassville High School students spent nearly an hour on Friday honoring local veterans, an annual Veterans Day tradition for the school, where a flag is presented to one local military member.
This year’s assembly began with a welcome from Principal Tyler Willis; the presentation of colors, featuring Mathew Whittenburg and Brennen Cieslinski, both Cassville seniors and current U.S. Army members; the playing of the “Star Spangled Banner;” and the band’s performance of “An American Celebration.”
Cieslinski and Whittenburg then completed the 13 folds of the U.S. flag, with the meaning behind each fold explained by students Audrey Goutney and Jillian LeCompte.
Once folded, Willis announced who would receive the flag this year, U.S. Army veteran Rick Jaques.
Jaques was born on Aug. 24, 1948, in Cassville, the youngest of five children. Hee graduated from Cassville High School in 1966 and moved to Kansas City, where he worked at Brooks Research, then later at Western Electric.
Soon after he arrived in Kansas City, he began dating Linda, whom he married in July 1967.
Just three months after the wedding he was called into the Army, reporting the day after Christmas in 1967. He completed his basic training at Fort Bliss, Texas. Then he was sent to Fort Polk, La., for combat training.
He was deployed to Vietnam in May of 1968, assigned to A Company 2nd Battalion, 5th Regiment, 1st Cavalry Air Division Air Mobile. He served in all four military corps of Vietnam. The 1st Cavalry was the most mobile division in Vietnam and was often sent to the hot spots.
His two biggest actions were early December 1968 at Dong Xoiu and March 29, 1969, at LZ Jess. His company’s Thanksgiving dinner 1968 was broadcasted nationally by CBS, as they were recognized as being the top unit in Vietnam for 1968.
Jaques achieved the rank of Sargent and was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge, Vietnam Service Medal, National Defense Medal, Vietnam Defense Medal Air Medal, Bronze Star, Army Commendation Medal for Valor and two Battalion Unit Citations.
He returned to the United States in May 1969 to his final duty station at Fort Sill, Okla.
He returned home to Cassville in 1972 and opened Jaques Engine Service, where he was a mechanic until his retirement in January 2014. He now spends his time taking care of his farm, spoiling his grandkids and serving in his church.
Jaques has been on several mission trips with the church, including returning to Vietnam on three occasions. He also enjoys the annual reunions he attends with about 40 veterans and their spouses from A-Company 2/5 Calvary.
Rick and Linda have five children, 12 grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and two more on the way.
Following the standing ovation for Jaques after the flag presentation, two students, Ella Reuter and Rileigh Rickard, read their contest-winning essays detailing the sacrifice and honor in military service and the meaning of Veterans Day.
The high school choir also performed “We Honor You,” and the middle school choir and band joined later for an instrumental and vocal performance of “Armed Forces — The Pride of America.”
Following the music, each veteran in the audience was recognized with a certificate, and the assembly closed with recognition of the missing man chair and a solemn performance of “Taps” by trumpet players Colton Cox, Asusena Perez and Dakota Taylor.
Veterans were treated to a reception following the event.
