Victor honors veterans, Stephani remembered

By Jean Schurman

 

Veterans Day at Victor School has always featured veterans, Marines, and one particular Marine, Bill Stephani. This fall, Stephani lost his final battle and passed on. But his legacy lives on and it was evident, not only in the facility he helped raise money for, but in the students at Victor School.

Veterans Day is a day to honor all veterans but it wasn’t always so. Originally it was to celebrate Armistice Day when World War I ended on the 11^th hour of the 11^th day of the 11^th month (November) in 1918. During the ceremony at the Mary Stuart Rogers Auditorium last Thursday, students from kindergarten through the senior class were on hand to honor a number of veterans in the audience and they also paid homage to a future Marine, one of their own, Peyton Tillotson, who will graduate in the spring and go into the Marines.

The program began with the Pirate band playing the National Anthem and then the Marine Corps hymn since the program was actually on the anniversary of the beginning of the Marines. Students who took part in the Poppy Poster Contest were honored for their achievements including Damien Wilson, Bailey Johnson, Marina Gotcher, Joyce Lockwood, Skyla Sage, Emalee Madrugal, Danielle Jessop and Krissy Kuettel. High school science teacher Charlie Bruner, a veteran of the Iraq war, showed the students how to properly salute the flag.

But even though he is no longer with us, it was Stephani who was the star of the show. Amber Lynch, the emcee of the program, spoke about the retired major and his impact on not only Victor School but the entire valley. Sgt. Joe Rogish of the Marine Corps League of the Bitterroot cited several accomplishments of Stephani, including some of his volunteer work such as working for the Hamilton Presbyterian Church, acting as the burial supervisor to make sure all veterans have flags on their graves on Memorial Day, and working with the VFW.

But it was the kids that really touched Stephani’s heart. Stephani worked tirelessly for the Victor School Foundation and their challenge to raise $1million to build a new arts and science complex. He was the vice president of the Victor Schools Foundation and, according to foundation president Kay Clevidence, “he was the energy and spirit behind the raising of $1 million over four years to bring Victor School into the 21^st century. “

This money was matched by the Mary Stuart Rogers Foundation of California. It was a daunting task for a small community like Victor but with Stephani’s faith in friends and strangers alike, the community and beyond came together to reach the goal.

“He tirelessly contacted businesses and individuals for four to five years, getting them to support the arts and science project that included upgrading the computer lab, the science lab, music room, library and building a new state of the art auditorium to benefit the school. Even after the goal was reached, Stephani continued to reach out to the community for another six years to raise to pay off the debt incurred in the building of the auditorium,” said Clevidence.

Rogish and Clevidence agreed that Stephani’s persistence and positive influence has had an impact on the community and the students. The Marine Corps League then presented the Victor Schools Foundation a $500 check for the foundation.

On Thursday evening, the Veterans Day festivities concluded with a spaghetti feed and concert.