Schools across the county are rolling out the red, white and blue for a variety of activities to honor local military personnel this Veterans Day.
On Nov. 11 students, faculty and staff will invite veterans from their communities to join them in special celebrations in recognition of their sacrifices to protect our country’s freedom.
In the weeks leading up to Veterans Day, students learn about the history of the day, what being a veteran means, and why it is important to recognize and celebrate the holiday. They also help with the planning of celebratory programs where veterans are the guests of honor.
• Cleveland Elementary will kick off the celebrations on Nov. 10 at 7 p.m. when they perform their annual “Freedomsong” program.
The highlight this year will be the performance of an original ballad written by Dana Lamb, the school’s music teacher, and sang by fourth and fifth graders. The song’s inspiration came from letters that students at the school wrote to soldiers.
Lamb used 25 different student letters from various grade levels and academic abilities to compose the song titled “A Child’s Letter to a Solider.”
There will also be a video presentation of photos of loved ones who have served, or are serving, in the United States military, patriotic readings and music performed by students, and a rose ceremony for each branch of military service featuring a kindergarten soloist.
• Brooks Elementary will host their annual Veteran’s Day picnic lunch and parade on Nov. 11.
Lunch for veterans and their families will take place from 11 a.m.-noon followed by a special program featuring the Sandy Creek High Color Guard, songs and skits performed by students, a message from guest speaker Fayette County Public School Superintendent Dr. Jeff Bearden, and a special PowerPoint tribute.
The parade around the town of Brooks will be from 1-2 p.m. led by the Whitewater High School marching band and featuring class floats.
• Crabapple Lane Elementary will start their event at 8:30 a.m. on Nov. 11 with a special assembly where one student from each grade level will read an essay he or she has written about a favorite veteran.
A school-wide musical tribute with performances by the percussion ensemble and the Cardinal Chorale will take place prior to a veterans honor parade that the school calls the “Heroes Walk.”
• Peeples Elementary will also honor veterans in their area with a parade around the school beginning at 1:30 p.m. Veterans in attendance will march around the school while students sing “The Armed Forces Medley” to them.
Also, on Nov. 7 at 9 a.m., there will be a question and answer session with the school’s third-, fourth- and fifth-graders and local veterans.
• Spring Hill Elementary will have a school-wide assembly for veterans on Nov. 11 at 9 a.m.
All 500-plus students will come together to create a mega choir that will perform numerous patriotic songs. Captain Julius Pryor, III is the master of ceremony and keynote speaker.
He has served the U.S. Navy as an Operations Division Officer on the USS Okinawa, Commander of the Second Fleet/Striking Fleet Atlantic Staff, Combat Systems Officer on the USS Missouri and Commanding Officer/US Commander in Chief Europe.
Pryor now works as a global diversity strategist and has assisted companies such as Coca-Cola Enterprises, Johnson & Johnson, and the Russell Athletic Corporation.
Following the program, veterans will attend a reception in their honor and will have the opportunity to visit classrooms for question and answer sessions with students.
• Huddleston Elementary will host a patriotic program for veterans in their community beginning at 8:15 a.m. in the school’s gym. Students will perform patriotic songs, music, and readings.
• Oak Grove Elementary is inviting all veterans in the area to attend the school’s annual program on Nov. 11 starting with a breakfast at 7:45 a.m. in the media center. A special assembly honoring those who have served our country will follow.
The school says it looks forward to meeting the veterans who come and thanking them for the sacrifices they have made.
• Fayette Middle will honor veterans on Nov. 11 with a special assembly in the school’s gym followed by a reception in the media center. Veterans from the school’s community are invited to attend. Students will honor them through music, song and special performances.
• Rising Starr Middle’s Student Council is hosting the school’s third annual Veterans Day Breakfast on Nov. 11 in the media center from 7:35-8:15 a.m.
All active duty and military veterans are invited. Close to 70 veterans and their family members attended last year. The sixth-grade orchestra students will perform while attendees enjoy breakfast.
