Yeager Elementary School students cheer on veterans as they drive up before the school’s 20th Veterans Day ceremony on Nov. 12. This year’s version was an outdoor program, as veterans sat outside or in the vehicles as the Yeager fifth grade and honors choirs performed songs. Yeager joined numerous CFISD elementary and secondary campuses in putting on Veterans Day ceremonies to honor retired and active service men and women throughout the first two weeks of November.
Nov. 22, 2021—In honoring retired and active service men and women, CFISD schools held both in-person and virtual Veterans Day celebrations, programs and performances throughout the first two weeks of November.
For in-person ceremonies, veterans and families throughout the CFISD community were invited to campuses to attend the ceremonies, which included refreshments, musical performances and concerts, parades, skits and speeches and other touching tributes. For virtual celebrations, campuses prepared video tributes designed to honor those who defend the freedoms of the United States.
Many elementary and secondary campuses celebrated local veterans. That included Yeager Elementary School, which held an on-campus celebration for a 20th consecutive year, and Hemmenway Elementary School, which honored veterans on campus for the first time.
In addition, a number of high school Air Force JROTC units presented the colors and raised the United States and Texas flags at the beginning of the school day on Nov. 11.
Yeager Elementary School
Veterans from the surrounding community were invited to an outdoor celebration on Nov. 12, which included a drive-thru option or parking and sitting for the program.
“Our celebration is big part of who we are at Yeager and it’s just such a rich part of our culture,” Yeager Principal Laura Barrett said of the long-standing ceremony. “We missed having everyone in person last year so this year we wanted to find a way to be able to have everyone on campus.”
The fifth grade and honor choirs performed multiple songs for the honored guests, with the event also highlighting each military branch. Each veteran was also presented with a decorated gift bag and book comprised of essays and artworks from the students.
“It was beautiful,” Barrett said. “There were actually quite a few tears among all of us because some things you don’t realize who much you miss them until you get to do them again.”
Hemmenway Elementary School first grade students sing during the school’s first-ever Veterans Day ceremony.
Hemmenway Elementary School
Veterans and community members were invited to the school’s first Veterans Day ceremony on Nov. 11. First grade students performed three songs: Proud to Be an American, The U.S. is Us and Let’s Hear It for America.
“We’ve always recognized our veterans, especially our staff members who have served, but we’ve never had a student performance,” said Dr. Renee Silliman, Hemmenway principal. “This year, we wanted to literally sing the praises of our veterans; those on staff and those in our community. Our first graders’ sweet voices definitely did just that.”
Dr. Liz Miller, Swenke Elementary School principal, thanks veterans who attended the school’s Veterans Day ceremony on Nov. 12. A number of schools conducted outdoor ceremonies, while other featured parades through commons areas for veterans.
Swenke Elementary School
Parents, grandparents and community veterans were invited to the school’s annual Veterans Day ceremony on Nov. 12. Cub Scouts presented colors for the program, which featured students speaking about their family members who served as well as choral performances from different grade levels.
“The thing that thrills me the most is the looks on the kids’ faces and seeing how much they appreciate not only us but the fact that their school and principal does this terrific gesture,” said Bob Rathbun, who served in the marines and has three grandchildren in CFISD.
Added Dr. Liz Miller, Swenke principal: “Last year we did a program but it was virtual and it’s just not the same without having the veterans and their families here. It means a lot to the kids and it’s great for them to see the veterans and the impact they’ve had.”
The Copeland Elementary School fifth grade choir performs during the campus’ Veterans Day ceremony on Nov. 11. The school joined numerous CFISD elementary and secondary campuses in putting on Veterans Day ceremonies to honor retired and active service men and women throughout the first two weeks of November.
Copeland Elementary School
Veterans from the community were invited to a parade and performance by the school choir in the cafeteria and small reception on Nov. 11. Students lined the campus hallways for the parade and veterans from all branches of the United States Armed Forces were the honored guests, as they high-fived and waved to students. Some students also made signs of appreciation for the veterans.
Lowery Elementary School students made posters to honor family members who are veterans. The student body also performed selected songs during a Veterans Day ceremony on Nov. 11.
Lowery Elementary School
The entire student body came together to honor veterans during a brief ceremony Nov. 11. Third grade students were the spotlight group, as they were the library while all other grades lined the hallways.
The program began with a numbers of speakers, before everyone sang the National Anthem. Teacher then passed out miniature flags to every student, who sang more selected songs in unison.
The Cypress Woods High School Air Force JROTC color guard performs the 13-flag fold during the Veterans Day ceremony at Spillane Middle School on Nov. 10.
Spillane Middle School
Veterans and community members enjoyed performances by choir, orchestra and band students in the gym on Nov. 10. The Cypress Woods High School Air Force JROTC color guard presented the colors and performed the 13-flag fold while explaining what each fold represents.
Spillane student representatives from student council and theatre spoke on the history of Veterans Day during the program and what it means to be an American.
Veterans and their family members wave to Walker Elementary School students during a parade for retired and active service men and women during the school’s Veterans Day ceremony on Nov. 11.
Walker Elementary School
Veterans from the surrounding community were invited to enjoy refreshments and a performance by the school choir in the campus cafeteria on Nov. 11. Wildcat fifth grade students joined the veterans in the morning assembly.
Following the ceremony, parents paraded through the hallways as students cheered, high-fived and displayed signs of appreciation for those who served.
