Photo courtesy of Trish Hand.
Veteran John Acken was honored by his three children, Colley, Allie and Marshall, at the Crestline Veterans Day program.
Fifth-grade students led the Crestline community in celebrating the service of our veterans.
Veterans started the day with a breakfast served by the Crestline PTO before moving to the auditorium for the program honoring them. There were multiple videos of students expressing their thoughts to the veterans.
The script for the videos was drawn from student writing addressing such prompts as “what makes a person a hero,” “challenges that veterans likely faced” and “how my life is better because of veterans.”
Under the direction of music teachers Laura Butler and Janet Nelson, students performed choral music honoring the branches of the service as well as leading veterans and parents in the singing of “God Bless America” and “The Star Spangled Banner.”
The featured speaker this year was Mrs. Ginny Bugg, daughter of a WWII pilot whose plane crashed when she was an infant. She talked with students and veterans about the sacrifices that veterans and their families have made so that we may enjoy freedom.
Students were enthralled with her stories about her search to know her father and the connections that she has created with his squadron.
In her letter to veterans, fifth-grader Audrey Schelske wrote, “You give us hope that there may still be some good left in the world. I hope you know that you are heroes.”
In discussing positive changes accomplished by veterans, Mia Dunlap said, “They have gone to dangerous areas and helped Americans keep their freedom and rights.” Spence Morano summed it up well when he wrote, “You are true heroes for risking your lives for our safety and independence.”
Students were moved by the experience of performing for the veterans and especially liked the moments when the veterans joined them in singing the patriotic songs.
In her reflection after the performance, Lilly Papapietro noted: “It was a very powerful experience for everyone. Even though this performance was for the veterans, it really affected us all.”
– Submitted by Trish Hand.
