MOUNT VERNON — Patriot Day, which commemorates the tragedies of 9/11, brought the 122nd Ohio National Guard Band to Mount Vernon High School for a concert on Thursday. The band played rock music of interest to the middle school students in attendance. Sgt. Ken Bettinger, a Berea school teacher, talked to them about the Army and opportunities to serve and learn a vocation and college credits.
Staff Sgt. Steve Winstead started the 30-minute concert with, “Are You Gonna Be My Girl’ followed by songs that had the students clapping and swinging their arms in the air. The Ohio National Guard Band is based at Rickenbacker Air Force Base and plays for Army functions and civic groups. The session ended with the band members taking questions from the students.
Proclaimed by President George W. Bush after 9/11, Patriot Day is a tribute to the lives lost on Sept. 11, 2001, and to the men and women in uniform. Flags were lowered to half-staff around the United States for the day.
