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Highlands Today

County Students Honor Veterans

Jasmina Meyer, Highlands Today

Sun 'n Lake Elementary School kindergarten students stand for the Pledge of Allegiance during a Veterans Day program on Monday in Sebring.

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By MARC VALERO

Highlands Today

Published: November 11, 2008

SEBRING - PHOTOS FOR PURCHASE

Veterans from recent and not-so-recent wars and military duty were honored Monday at Sun 'N Lake Elementary School's Veterans Day Program.

Roy Johnson, of Wauchula, spotted his two grandsons - a kindergartener and fifth-grader - who attend the school.

Johnson was assigned to a U.S. Army missile unit in the mid 1960s. It was based in Germany.

Johnson pointed out his 91-year-old relative, Don Ferraro, who was a U.S. Marine in World War II.

While waiting to see his step great-grandson perform in the program, Ferraro noted he made it through the war without a "scratch."

It's great to see the support for the veterans, said Sebring High teacher Tim Boulay, who is a veteran of the Iraq War.

Following the Presentation of the Colors by the Sebring High School Junior ROTC, the students sang patriotic songs for the gathering of parents and about 30 veterans.

The fourth- and fifth-graders sang "Americans We," and the second- and third-graders sang "Oh, I Love America."

The kindergarteners and the first-graders sang a repetitive short tune called "March of the Wee Americans."

Singing "Freedom, Freedom, I am free," three times followed by "I'm American," the 5- and 6-year-olds got caught up in the excitement of the moment and continued singing after the background music stopped.

The crowd chuckled as the school's music director Laura Melfi signaled for the exuberant students to stop singing.

A round of applauses and thanks honored the veterans who were invited to assemble before the gathering.

Each veteran received a gift - a mouse pad with a depiction of three American eagles in front of an American flag with the words "United We Stand."

A remembrance from Assistant Principal Linda Laye brought a tear to many eyes.

Laye said she first met Marcus Mathes in 1993 when he entered fifth grade at Cracker Trail Elementary School.

He had the most incredible smile, she said.

"The most important thing I remember about Marcus is that he loved his family."

His positive and supportive traits were most evident on April 28 of this year when Marcus died along with his best friend by mortar fire in Iraq, she said.

"Upon hearing of his death, the memories came flooding back to me - Marcus as a fifth-grader, the day I heard he had graduated from high school and the day that I had heard he had gotten married," Laye said.

Marcus joined the Army after the 9/11 attacks because he wanted to do the right thing, she said.

"I was fortunate enough to have Marcus in my life for one school year," she said. "I never thought that I would be talking about this happy-go-lucky boy who grew up to become a hero.

"He grew up to be a man who loved his country and fought for freedom. Because, boys and girls, freedom isn't free - sometimes you pay with your life."

After the program, a recording of Glenn Miller's "Moonlight Serenade" played on the school's P.A. system. This classic hit and other songs from the Big Band Era are often identified with the World War II years.

Miller's signature song was a favorite of her and her husband, Don, Fran Ferraro commented.

"It still is, though we don't dance much anymore."

Marc Valero can be reached at 386-5826 or mvalero@highlandstoday.com

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