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Escambia County High School paid tribute to veterans during its Veterans Day Program Nov. 7.

Veterans Day, also known as Armistice Day, is celebrated on Nov. 11 each year. The day marks and celebrates the service of those Americans who have served in the armed forces.

The student-lead program included patriotic songs, “The National Anthem,” “God Bless America,” a skit by the ECHS Drama Club, staff veteran interviews, a military tribute, poem of thanks and “Taps.”

Faculty members Antonio Brooks, Stephanie Buitron and Layton Knight, all veterans, were interviewed during the program.

Imari Lemon moderated the interview portion, and the first question centered on why they chose to go into the military.

“I enlisted into two different branches (U.S. Marine Corps and Army National Guard),” Buitron said. “I joined the Marine Corps because I wanted to follow in my father and brother’s footsteps.”

Knight said he joined the U.S. Air Force for a change of scenery.

Knight said he went to play basketball at the University of West Alabama, but got cut.

He said joining the Air Force was the best decision he’s made.

Brooks said he joined the Air Force because he needed a change of scenery as well.

“I wasn’t the best student in high school, but I was smart,” Brooks said. “I also wanted to travel the world as well.
Another question centered on what part of the military was the most different to them.

Knight said the hardest part for him was his deployment in 2019.

“I was on a deployment, and going to Dubai every weekend,” he said. “Then, my orders came down, and I couldn’t tell my wife. I ended up in Saudi, and not knowing. At that moment, I was expecting the worst. But, you’ve just got to face it. Life is hard. You’ve got to face it, adapt and overcome.”

Brooks said the military was everything he expected, adding that he grew up around the military.

Buitron said she realized that being in the military was like having a job.

“I was a military police officer,” she said. “And you still have a job. you’re in the military, and you have a specific job you have to do every day.”