Honoring our Heroes

Students proudly gripped miniature versions of the American flag as they stood in a row before a packed Grant Elementary gym Nov. 12 to pay tribute to local military veterans. The appreciation was apparent around the room, which was decorated with student-made artwork thanking the veterans for making the ultimate sacrifice for their freedom.
Students consisting of the third-grade student council opened up the Veterans Day Assembly by leading the gathering in the Pledge of Allegiance, before students sang a rendition of “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee” to a warm reception from the audience.
“It’s our pleasure to be here,” veteran Jim Williams said as he took over the program and brought veterans to the front of the gymnasium for a round of questions asked by students.
“These guys volunteered or were drafted, but they put the uniform on to defend our country from bad people,” Williams said. “They are like police officers. . . they are the good guys.”
Inquiries from the students ranged from what veterans jobs were while serving to wondering if they missed their families while overseas and why they joined the military in the first place.
For K-6 principal Debbie Brown, the question-answer session between the young student body and local heroes is a valuable experience all around.
“It’s hugely important,” she said. “We don’t want to forget our freedoms and these are the people that make it happen.”
A few days earlier on Nov. 9, a collaborative Veterans Day ceremony involving Jesse Martin Post 9, the women’s auxiliary and the school district gathered in the Glenrock Junior/Senior High School gym to pay tribute.
Karla Lee led the ceremony for the 16th consecutive year, which saw Converse County Sheriff’s Office Sheriff Clint Becker serving as guest speaker before a crowd of approximately 400 attendees ranging from students, community members and school faculty.
This year’s Girls and Boys State representatives Yesi Hermosillo, Zane Moore and Peyton Steinmetz spoke about their experiences in Washington D.C.
As Jeremy Huck led the music department in patriotic renditions, the ceremony drew to a close but the reminder of what these men and women have been through to protect our American freedoms on a daily basis will remain until Nov. 11 rolls around next year.