Elementary students salute veterans

Young voices united and singing with pride and appreciation for those who have sacrificed for our country, Woodlawn Elementary's Veterans Day program saluted our nation's heroes in uniform for keeping America the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Wearing red, white and blue T-shirts, the school's fourth-graders stood shoulder to shoulder on the cafeteria's stage to sing the "Star Spangled Banner," "America" and other patriotic songs.

As the students sang an "armed forces medley" the veterans in the audience were invited to stand as their branch theme song was sung.

The student chorus gave a sharp salute at the conclusion of the medley.

Fifth-grader 11-year-old Kaya Hancock clapped along to the music and got caught up in the enthusiasm.

"I salute the Air Force, the Army and the other branches," he said.

Later in the program, Hancock said, "I am going to be in the Air Force."

Principal Kaye Bowers said, "What a great country we have and how much freedom we have in our country. One, the freedom to go to school; the freedom to get an education; the freedom to come here to Woodlawn Elementary."

There are very special people who help maintain that freedom year after year after year and continue to help maintain that freedom, she said. "We are so honored and privileged to have our veterans in our presence this morning."

Guest speaker U.S. Air Force Tech Sgt. James Brown told of his grandfather's service in the military during the Korean War and how the South Korean city of Pusan had changed since his grandfather was there.

Brown said, 50 years later, when he called his grandfather to tell him that Pusan was a thriving metropolis, he was completely astounded.

During the war, the South Koreans were struggling and his grandfather didn't have the foresight to see 50 years later that people would be congratulating his grandson for what the U.S. military did 50 years earlier.

"Winning a war is more than winning an actual battle," Brown said. "It's winning the hearts and minds of a generation."

The school's safety patrol presented a gift bag to the veterans who were present.

U.S. Army veteran Wayne Turner, who has two daughters at the school, said the program was real nice. His gift bag included letters thanking veterans for everything they have done.

The letters will go home and be posted on the refrigerator for a little while, Turner said.

U.S. Army veteran George Henry's gift bag included a student's drawing of a military helicopter firing a weapon on a ship below.

The student's letter said: "Thank you for fighting for my country. I hope you didn't get hurt or injured. Have you shot a bazooka yet? You men and women are brave people. I never knew people who were that brave.

"When I grow up I want to be an army guy. Have you drove an army plane yet? I wouldn't because I'm afraid of heights. Are you afraid of heights?

"I hope you write back."