Today (11/9) I attended an all-school assembly at Norton School in honor of veterans. It was an excellent event, and great thanks is due to Principal Mary Karas. She and her staff invited vets through students who know us as family members, relatives and neighbors. There were about 40 of us who arrived at 8-ish for breakfast in the cafeteria, and a very fine breakfast it was.
Then we went into the gym for the assembly. We were seated in several rows along the wall. All grades came in, sixth graders first. They sat on the floor in back. Then the other grades filed in. When everyone was in, the first graders were in the front, closest to us.
The program began with the Pledge of Allegiance, led by a student, and the National Anthem, sung by a student. Student Council members offered remarks. There were presentations by various grades to recognize and thank veterans.
Mrs. Karas had asked me to speak, and since in my heart of hearts I am a teacher and always in the classroom, I was very happy to talk with the kids about veterans, the branches of the armed forces, the chain of command, and about the vets who were present. We ranged in age from 31 to 90 (but all were male). So the kids got to see that vets are their fathers and mothers, grandfathers and grandmothers, relatives, etc. I also pointed out that women serve in the military, so vets are not just a bunch of old guys who fought in the war, as one student sort of phrased it.
The assembly began at 9 a.m. and was over by 10. Throughout it, the students were attentive, polite, well-behaved and respectful. As they returned to class, they all passed by us, shook our hands and thanked us. And after they’d left, we vets spoke among ourselves, expressing our appreciation for the event.
A Bravo Zulu (BZ) to Principal Karas for a wonderful Veterans Day program. BZ is milspeak for “Well done!”
Then we went into the gym for the assembly. We were seated in several rows along the wall. All grades came in, sixth graders first. They sat on the floor in back. Then the other grades filed in. When everyone was in, the first graders were in the front, closest to us.
The program began with the Pledge of Allegiance, led by a student, and the National Anthem, sung by a student. Student Council members offered remarks. There were presentations by various grades to recognize and thank veterans.
Mrs. Karas had asked me to speak, and since in my heart of hearts I am a teacher and always in the classroom, I was very happy to talk with the kids about veterans, the branches of the armed forces, the chain of command, and about the vets who were present. We ranged in age from 31 to 90 (but all were male). So the kids got to see that vets are their fathers and mothers, grandfathers and grandmothers, relatives, etc. I also pointed out that women serve in the military, so vets are not just a bunch of old guys who fought in the war, as one student sort of phrased it.
The assembly began at 9 a.m. and was over by 10. Throughout it, the students were attentive, polite, well-behaved and respectful. As they returned to class, they all passed by us, shook our hands and thanked us. And after they’d left, we vets spoke among ourselves, expressing our appreciation for the event.
A Bravo Zulu (BZ) to Principal Karas for a wonderful Veterans Day program. BZ is milspeak for “Well done!”
- John
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