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Bringing A Little Christmas To Veterans

photo provided Bringing a little bit of cheer to the VA Hospital in White River Junction, Vermont, Miss Vermont Jeanelle Achee, members of the Miss Vermont Outstanding Teen PTP Program and the VUHS Dance Team sang, danced and shared holiday wishes with veterans!

Monday December 23, 2013

By Cookie Steponaitis

When the bus stopped in front of Building One of the Veterans Hospital at White River Junction and unloaded its holiday cargo, it truly was a Vermont Christmas. The assembled troop of performers represented four separate counties of the state and shared one collective mission to bring a smile, some music and a little holiday cheer to those veterans spending their holidays in the hospital. Miss Vermont 2013 Jeanelle Achee led the troop and served as the host, MC and one of the vocalists for the hour long Christmas show performed in a Bob Hope style and joining in the festivities were veterans who were at the hospital for an appointment and those wounded staying there. The show included Irish Dance, Ballet, singing, formal readings and a lot of joking and fun. Armed with a collection of one ‘liners’ from the famed Bob Hope shows and just a willingness to share holiday joy, the troop stayed after the show and simply talked and thanked each of the veterans for their service.The round trip ride of four hours to perform a one hour show was an event as sweet as any layered holiday treat. And, beneath the opening layer of joy and holiday cheer lays a deeper understanding that the holidays is really a time to open hearts and minds and simply say thank you where it is needed. The troop headed back to their communities with a plan to come back and do it all again next year and had a spring in their step and a spot in their hearts that were full to the brim. Performers were Miss Vermont- Jeanelle Achee (vocalist), Rebecca Maloy (Irish Dance), Julia Johnson (Vocalist), Emily Martin ( Vocalist), Alexandra Diehl (Ballet), Lexie Shaw ( Dramatic reading) Julie Grace  (Dramatic Reading), and VUHS Dance Team (Shawna Shortsleeve, Ariel Merker, Megan Wood, Abigail Dobson, Ericka Delisle, Schyler Coyle, Nyomi Bean, and coach Rose Russett.)

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