Students Salute Veterans

SEBRING - With songs, a poem and words of appreciation, Fred Wild Elementary School students honored and thanked our U.S. military veterans.

Theresa Whidden's first-grade class recited a poem Friday that was composed by Whidden, which said in part: "On Veterans Day, we would like to say. With pride-filled hearts, thank you to the veterans who have done their part to keep us safe, to keep us free. Without their courage life as we know it might not be."

World War II U.S. Army veteran, retired Cmdr. Sgt. Maj. Harold Linville told the students after Germany's defeat, he was going to be moved from the European theater to the war effort against Japan. But before his deployment, the United States dropped atomic bombs on two cities in Japan ending the war.

"Personally, I believe it saved my life," he said. "As you learn more about history you will understand why the United States used the atomic bombs."

James Baxter, who served in the U.S. Marine Corp for six years, told the students he was a jet mechanic and served tours of duty in Iraq and Afganistan.

"I wore civilian clothes today to show you that not every veteran has to wear a distinctive uniform," Baxter said. "We walk among you guys; we are normal just like you; we are nice people just like you and we don't always have to wear a uniform to feel proud.

"We feel proud that we did what we did for you guys, every day of our lives. Just remember, on Veterans Day you don't only have to honor us and remember us - just thank us and we thank you guys for supporting us."

The school's Veterans Day program was held Friday because the holiday is on Sunday, Nov. 11.