Schools participate in Veterans Day activities

November 11, 2009 — Many CFISD schools honored the service of United States veterans and active duty military throughout the last week in honor of Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2009.

“As we prepare our 103,000-plus CFISD students for life in the 21st century, it is the educators’ responsibility to ensure that all students know our military history, that they clearly understand that the quality of life in the U.S. depends upon the protection our troops provide and that future generations continue to honor the sacrifices of the casualties of war and support soldiers who serve all over the globe,” said Judy Reidy, district AFJROTC coordinator. “As First Sgt. (Ret.) Richard Perez, a teaching assistant at the ALC, explained it, ‘The school education system is the foundation that the armed services builds upon. Without this base, the greatness of this country wouldn't be realized.’”

Several schools held their Veterans Day celebration on Wednesday, Nov. 11:

• U.S. Army Cpt. David Sullivan shows A. Robison Elementary School students the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter that landed near Cypress Woods High School on Wednesday as part of the school’s Veterans Day festivities.

  Cypress Woods High School kicked the day off with a Veterans Day Reveille Ceremony at 9:30 a.m., concluding with a helicopter flyover and landing. The AFJROTC Unit TX-20091 also conducted a formal activation ceremony. According to Cypress Woods AFJROTC coordinator Wanda Ewing, the following organizations helped make the event possible: the Texas Army National Guard, United States Navy, United States Marine Corps, Cypress Woods band, choir, cheerleaders, Wild Things, Student Council, VIPs and Cypress Woods staff and faculty.

• A. Robison Elementary School also participated in Cypress Woods’ helicopter flyover and landing. The school’s student council greeted more than 90 veterans in the morning, while kindergarten and first grade students performed patriotic songs in the library. Following the event with Cypress Woods, A. Robison held an official ceremony in the cafeteria, complete with a PowerPoint presentation, a flag ceremony by the Boy Scouts, student readings and choir songs. A. Robison also introduced a special hallway filled with photos honoring the veterans.

• Black Elementary School’s Veterans Day program, “A Tribute to Our Heroes,” invited students’ veteran parents and grandparents to a breakfast reception and program. Black’s fourth-grade Bearkat Council served as greeters, while the Boy Scouts led the veterans into the program and posted the colors. Students presented their veteran guests with a certificate created by the staff and signed by principal Lillian Chastain.

  • Black’s second-, third-, fourth- and fifth-grade students, as well as The Bearkat Singers, sang patriotic songs, while the second- and third-grade students presented a poem, “V is For Veterans,” written by teacher Meredith Akers. Black’s media specialist, Julie Lenk, sang “The Star Spangled Banner,” while Cy-Fair High school student Julieanne Crea also performed a song. After the program, the veterans walked to the library through hallways filled with kindergarten and first-grade students waving flags and serving as a wall of honor. The veterans had their pictures taken as a small token of the school’s appreciation for their service to our country.

Other schools hosted Veterans Day events on Friday, Nov. 6:

• Yeager Elementary School celebrated its 9th Veterans Day ceremony, “You Are Our Heroes,” with approximately 85 veterans and honored guests attending. The school began with a breakfast reception that included entertainment from its fifth-grade honor choir and a pre-kindergarten flag parade. Veterans visited the school’s Wall of Honor, which displayed pictures of the veterans indicating the branch of military service they served. The reception was followed by a musical ceremony that included songs from each grade level. Student essay and art contest winners also shared their work of patriotism and gratitude for the veterans. The event included a veterans procession led by kindergarten students dressed as Uncle Sam, Miss Liberty, a minuteman and an Army service lady.

• Millsap Elementary School began its festivities with a breakfast made by Millsap staff, singing, a flag processional and the introduction of veterans. The school announced its Veterans Day art and essay contest winners, which was followed by a slide show, a poem reading by principal Jodi Matteson, the playing of “Taps” and the retiring of colors. The event concluded with the unveiling of Millsap’s new butterfly garden. First-grade students lined the entrance to the garden with flags to welcome the veterans. Millsap Spotlight Teacher Carmela Simmons served as emcee for the garden’s dedication and oversaw the release of butterflies within the garden.

• Reed Elementary School celebrated “Salute to America” by presenting its 32 veterans in attendance with a certificate and a seat on stage. The program opened with a flag ceremony by representatives of the Reed Girl and Boy Scouts. Shannon Perry, a national recording artist and former Reed teacher and counselor, sang “The Star Spangled Banner,” and students from each grade level presented their own patriotic songs. Following a recognition of each veteran by principal Leslie Thomas, the program culminated with the singing of “God Bless the USA,” during which students and staff walked down the aisle to join their veterans on stage as the audience sang.

Four kindergarten students at Yeager Elementary School dressed up as American icons as part of the school’s Veterans Day ceremonies. Pictured, from left to right, are Nick Cartwright (Uncle Sam), Allison Williams (Lady Liberty), Carolina Gonzalez (Army service lady) and Kyle McCullum (minuteman).