Oxford Middle School choir students raised their voices in unison Friday evening to honor America’s veterans during the 11th Annual Americana Concert.
As always, the concert featured a variety of stirring patriotic songs sung by 250 sixth, seventh and eighth-graders under the expert direction of teacher Jan Flynn.
This year’s guest speaker was Lake Orion resident and attorney Jeffrey Butler, a U.S. Army captain who served from 1966-71. He fought in the Vietnam War from 1969-70. During that time, he piloted a Cobra helicopter and was a gunship platoon commander.
After Vietnam, Butler continued his active service as a staff logistics officer with the 82nd Airborne Division at Ft. Bragg in North Carolina.
During his service, he earned the Bronze Star and Air Medal with 29 Oak Leaf Clusters.
Butler served as a Huey helicopter pilot in the Michigan Army National Guard from 1983 to 2005.