Students honor vets with original play

VILLISCA — Villisca’s Senior Government class members said their research and imaginations have given them a deeper appreciation of freedoms they have been enjoying. They know each generation helps preserve freedom for America’s citizens.

Last Thursday morning, Veterans Day, and Friday evening, the seniors in Melissa Osborn’s government class presented “We’ll Meet Again.” Osborn and senior student, Sawyer Johannes, co-authored the one-act play that depicts scenes from World War II until the present.
Because Villisca’s families, and countless other local families over the years, experienced the sacrifices brought on by wars, the senior government students chose to take roles and adapt lines during the last five months so they could present “We’ll Meet Again” as their tribute to veterans on November 11.
Part of the students’ production process began after listening to a recording of Kate Smith’s “We’ll Meet Again” song. Smith’s patriotic music frequented the airwaves during the 1930s and 1940s and “We’ll Meet Again” was a song familiar to both allied troops and their families back home during World War II.
Throughout the forty-five minute presentation, cast members depict both the soldiers and the soldiers’ family members during times of war and conflicts aboard. Though some soldiers return home, those closest to that veteran realize war has brought about at least a few changes. In addition, some families, and many veterans, must discover how to live without those whose lives were lost as they answered our country’s call to arms.  
Leah Robinson, cast as Charlotte, a widow in the presentation, is thankful she did not lose her father, brother, or any of the males among her extended family as each put on a uniform to preserve the freedoms she enjoys as a U.S. citizen. Shortly after the play opens, Charlotte receives word her husband will not be returning home from World War II to care for her and to help raise their young children.
“I personally cannot really imagine what it would feel like to lose my father or brother, or any of my relatives who have served during the wars, but I think this play really showed how wars spread out through the generations. The play helped me experience more of what it would be like on a personal level,” Robinson said.
Though the presentation began with newsreel visuals from the liberation of prisoners from the German labor camp, Dachau, the students depicted how wars and conflicts have continually required Americans to serve in the armed forces around the world.
War is a response to oppression. It has sometimes also caused conflict within some families and communities, as it did during Viet Nam.
Courtney Auxier and Brandy Sickels portrayed the hippie movement’s opposition to war. Auxier plays a character opposed to her brother’s cooperation with the draft, begging him to join her in protests or fleeing to Canada. A deceased veteran’s wife helps her understand previous soldiers’ sacrifices, including that of the hippie’s father and his unit.  
“The play showed what families had to go through during Viet Nam and how some strong families stayed together, but for some it was difficult and they split their ways,” Auxier said.
Ashley Thompson, whose uncle, Jamie Moore, recently returned from his second tour in Iraq, said she liked how the play showed the effect war has on continuing generations. Thompson’s mother, Julie Cooper, is the sister of veteran Moore. Cooper said she was very proud of her daughter’s portrayal of the daughter of a Viet Nam veteran afflicted with cancer from “agent orange”.
In the presentation, video permits the audience to watch as Kristina (Thompson) and a friend witness the September 11, 2001, attack on the World Trade Centers. Subsequently Kristina comes home to tell her veteran father that she has volunteered to serve in the defense of our country.
Throughout the one-act play, which the students plan to perform in the speech and drama competition in January, the diary of the WWII soldier is passed from one from character to another. That diary is given in hopes of helping sustain individuals discovering they are faced with challenges and fallout brought on by conflicts in other countries.
All students skillfully portrayed characters and skillfully handled their responsibilities to make the production memorable.
In the WWII scene, Marshall Dolch, Aleck Pafford, Chris Schaaf, Nick Eblen, Leah Robinson and Dani Ives portrayed characters. Robinson and Ives were the wives becoming aware of the price WWII brought to their husbands and children.
In the Vietnam scene, the audience watched the maturing Byrd family deal with video announcement of the draft during the turmoil within this nation as well. When the birth date of veteran’s son is drawn, his family struggles with the questions surrounding the U.S.’s participation in the Viet Nam War.  Courtney Auxier, Dani Ives, Sawyer Johannes, Chris Schaaf, Brandy Sickels and Leah Robinson played characters.
In the final scene surrounding the effects of 9/11, characters responding were Ashley Thompson, Katie Murren, Sawyer Johannes, Liz Rinner and CJ McCuen.
Serving as announcer and video operator was CJ McCuen, and the production’s soundman was Austin Greig.
Friday night’s performance experienced lighting difficulties early in the show. After that was resolved, the play started over so the audience could more fully appreciate the presentation’s impact.
Johannes, who has been hanging around high school productions since he was in elementary, has been helping write plays since seventh grade.
“He’s been good for me,” Osborn said of her student. “He would help brainstorm ideas and it was good to get feedback from him, and other students, too. When I was directing “Hanging by a Thread,” he was just in seventh grade, but eventually he helped write the last scene and had a part in it. He’s creative.”
“We (he and Mrs. Osborn) have a connection and our personalities are a lot alike. We know where the other is coming from. Sometimes we would see each other and one would say, “I have an idea” (about lines for “We’ll Meet Again”) and we would figure how we could get that to work together. We could write fast because we have the same sense of direction,” Johannes said.
“Through this experience I really have more respect for the veterans and the situations they had to go through. It was eye-opening for me and I can see their pride for our country and realize more about the self discipline they need for their achievements,” he said after the two performances were over.
“I thought this play was a great way to give back to the veterans (last Thursday). I think there were over 50 of them here and they came up and commented about the play. I don’t think there was a dry eye after the play,” Thompson said.
In thanking the veterans, in the program handout each guest received, the government class wrote “Without you freedom would only be a hope and wish, instead it is a reality! Thank you!”