Editorial: National Honor Society induction shows off our best

A senior citizen who attended the April 26 induction of the 47 new members of the Belleville High School National Honor Society told us he was so impressed with the caliber of the students on that stage.
He said he remembers another time he came to Belleville High School for an event and the students were yelling and carrying on. He was not impressed.
But this time he was impressed. He said he saw the vice president of the Honor Society talking to a friend of his, a Vietnam veteran, and he asked the friend if that was his grandson, because the student was so engaged. No. Didn’t know him, but they hooked up.
Our friend was very touched. These people on that stage — some 47 inductees and 47 or so current National Honor Society members — are our future. These are the young people who will be leading our communities and our country before long.
They were all different. Wore different clothes. During the induction ceremony, some spoke so fast you could hardly understand them or slowly so you could.
Some were able to introduce their siblings as new members. There were hand slaps and hugs. It was touching.
Although hearing a few sentences each on 47 students takes a long time, it was worth it. These fresh-faced, silly, sad, happy, nervous, confident individuals are our future. We need to encourage them as best we can.