STURGIS — Walking to the West Elementary gymnasium on Friday, parents and relatives were greeted by chattering voices and camouflage hearts made out of construction paper and artsy American flags with a heart in place of the stars.
Nine of the school’s older students sat in the middle of the gym under a red, white and blue balloon arch and a banner that said, “Thank you, veterans.”
Each of the nine students got up to speak, thanking veterans for their service and giving history of the day.
“World War I officially ended on June 28, 1919, in the town of Versailles, France,” Joshua Rogers, a student at West, read. “However, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice went into effect on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.”
Student Chaney Morgan then explained how Armistice Day eventually became Veterans Day when President Dwight D. Eisenhower proclaimed the first Veterans Day in 1954.
Before the veterans in the audience were asked to stand, the pre-kindergarten students sang “This Land is Your Land” to those in attendance, including the entire student body.
Veterans were given books compiled with thank you letters from the students, and some of the older students read their thank yous aloud.
One second-grader made a drawing and said they are thankful for their freedom to “watch TV.” One third-grader wrote he is thankful for veterans “keeping us safe and making the world a better place.” At the end of his note, he tacked on his love with a simple, “We love you.”
Children giggled and smiled after the program, going up to their parents and grandparents. Some active duty parents were present, and they gathered to take family pictures together while still in uniform.
Army veteran Gabriel Texidor’s four children go to West.
“It means a lot that schools are still allowing the kids to learn that part of history, to learn how important veterans are to the community,” Texidor said. “It’s great that they’re showing the kids, especially the little ones, how important it is to serve our country. … I love this book a little more because my kids wrote in it, and it just shows that these kids are aware of what veterans have done for this country.”
Principal Gabrielle Mills said this is the first time students have published their own book of thanks to veterans for a Veterans Day program. The preparation began about a month ago, and it was incorporated into each grade level’s regular curriculum.
“I think it meant more to (the students) because they are able to understand Veterans Day, and what our servicemen do for us,” Mills said. “They had to do their own research, and they had to figure out what they were thankful for and what we couldn’t have if we didn’t have the freedom these brave people fight for.”
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