Robeson Elementary honored community veterans by welcoming them to the school for food and entertainment on Veterans Day Nov. 11.
Each year the students choose a theme for the Veterans Day celebration at their school. This years theme was “You’re a hero in this place.” According to the Veterans themselves, they had felt just that.
“I think every vet felt welcomed and rewarded,” said veteran Harry Fox, who served in Korea from 1969 to 1972.
The event started at 9 a.m. starting with a breakfast for the Veterans and their families attending. At about 9:45, the veterans then began to move to the gymnasium where the students had planned a performance for them.
The students created a performance to recognize their service to our country. All the students had taken part in the assembly in some way. Kindergarten had created a banner, first grade had created cards to pass out to the veterans as they were welcomed into the school, second grade had decorated invitations to veterans that had attended before, third grade and fourth grade both put on musical performances and were to create poems and essays to commemorate the Veterans.
Mrs. Lisa Dieffenbach was in charge of the performances. The performance had started off with a few students reading a piece they had written to explain how Veterans Day was important to them, or to tell about a veteran they knew and what their story was.
The third grade class then sang a few songs for the Veterans, such as the Star Spangled Banner.
The fourth graders had then switched with the third graders to give their performance. They had prepared a few pieces to also read to the Veterans about why Veterans Day was important to them. They also sang a few songs and even recreated different memorials, using just themselves, to honor the Veterans.
To end the performance there was a candle lighting ceremony and a moment of silence in remembrance of the fallen veterans.
The last song to be sung was “Hero in this place”. The fourth graders had sang the entire song and during the chorus all the student joined in to sing while waving little flags in the air.
After the performance veterans had the option of speaking in different classes to the children about what it is like to be a soldier and what they have done. Major Tom Fox, Major Howell, and Steve Wickim spoke to Mrs. Lisa Folk’s fourth grade class about their experience and they even brought items to share with the students. Both Majors brought items to show kids what they have to carry each day and how tough it is to do. Major Howell had brought a protective vest and helmet, which weighs to about 70 to 80 pounds. Many of the students tried the gear on, realizing that it weighed about as much as them.
The students did not look at Veterans Day just as a fun day in school; however, teachers made sure the students understood what Veterans Day is about.
Jason Pinciotti, age 10, said, “Veterans Day is really important and it’s a nice way to celebrate, not only for the ones here, but for the ones who died for us.”
The students enjoyed the day and performing for the Veterans was fun for them.
Hannah Schmittinger, age 10, said her favorite part about the day was “Seeing the Veterans come out and singing songs for them.”
Robeson Elementary has been honoring veterans for a few years and they will continue to honor veterans with their performances for upcoming years. For upcoming events Robeson Elementary will be having Cookies with Santa on Dec. 5 at 6 p.m.
