On Friday, May 1, the Explorer Team began their World War II Integration Day with a ceremonial presentation by members of the American Legion, Legion Auxiliary and Sons of the American Legion and active duty military honoring those who are listed as Prisoners of War or Missing In Action by the U.S. Government. The event began with the American Legion Post 36 Color Guard presenting the Colors. After the Pledge of Allegiance, led by Hillary Smith, VT Am. Leg State Commander Dick Farmer conducted the POW/MIA table ceremony assisted by Eric Godzik. Veteran Lt Col Keith Arlund, assisted by Ethan Mumley and Jessica Snyder, folded an American flag and placed it at the table as would be done for a veteran funeral service. Students followed the Color Guard outside for a gun salute. Jonah Bissell and Lena Cohen played TAPS in traditional military-echo fashion. The ceremony was followed by a question and answer period where students asked questions of the veterans who service ranged from WWII, to Vietnam, to Korea, to Beirut to the conflicts in Iraq.

The Explorers would like to thank all those guests who made this such a memorable day. RMS also wants to thank Mrs. Pringle for organizing the moving and memorable event.

Integration Day is a curricular collaboration between RMS core academic teams and the Unified Arts teams. Students explore topics they are studying in their core classes through the lens of their UA classes; Art, Drama, Physical Education, Music, Family and Consumer Science, and Technology Education.