Superior students celebrate Veterans Day
Ed Heppe commands Doug Cummings, HF Berneking, Churck Case, Gary Chambers and Rhandy Kryzsko during the assmebly on Veteran's Day at Superior Elementary.
Students rise and place their hands over their hearts as the flags are carried past them.
Ed Heppe commands the men from the VFW post to postition the rifles as they carry them. From left to right: Chuck Case, Gary Chambers, Dan Arnsan and Rhandy Kryzsko.
Students watch as Doug Cummings and HF Berneking place the colors during the assembly at Superior Elementary on Veteran's Day.
American flags hung from businesses and the expanse of the memorial bridge in Superior was lined with red, white and blue ribbons. A sign placed by Wells Fargo read, “We honor and thank our veterans.”
Last Thursday, was Veteran’s Day, or Armistice Day, when on the “eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month,” in 1918, the armistice was signed for the cessation of hostilities on the Western Front at the end of World War I.
An act approved on May 13, 1938, made the 11th of November in each year a legal holiday—a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as “Armistice Day.”
Armistice Day was primarily a day set aside to honor veterans of World War I, but in 1954, after World War II had required the greatest mobilization of soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen in the nation’s history; after American forces had fought aggression in Korea, the 83rd Congress, at the urging of the veterans service organizations, amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word “Armistice” and inserting in its place the word “Veterans.” With the approval of this legislation on June 1, 1954, November 11th became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.
Students at Superior Elementary gathered in the gymnasium last Thursday to learn about this special day. Men from VFW Post 6238 in Superior were present to post the colors. Ed Heppe said that he felt it was important for the kids to learn and understand what veteran’s day is all about.
“It’s a day to honor vets of all branches for their service,” Heppe said. “It’s important because of what they do to keep America free.”
Doug Cummings, also from the VFW, said that coming into the schools to post and retrieve the colors is “the most fun of all” for him.
As the American Flag was carried into the gymnasium and placed on its stand, the kids rose and placed their right hand over their hearts.
“Flag bearers only,” Heppe commanded, “post colors.”
With the flag in place, the post members returned to their seats and principal Scott Kinney stepped up to speak to the students. Kinney asked the audience of students why they were gathered, what veteran’s day is and also asked what a veteran is.
“And they come from all over the United States and from every nationality,” Kinney said, “men and woman who serve. What does serve mean?”
A student answered to fight for your country and while that is correct, Kinney expanded on it farther.
“Some were called when the government said we need you and others chose to serve,” Kinney explained. “Either way, serve is to do something for someone else. They act on our behalf. They’re doing something for us…in your daily life when is the last time you’ve ever fought for someone else’s freedom.”
Kinney pointed out to the students that America is currently in a time of war, which we can often forget as we move from task to task. Kinney told the students that there are soldiers right now in Iraq and Afghanistan who are away from their home, family, friends and pets sitting in high temperatures and less desirable conditions.
“It’s because the veterans have served that we enjoy the freedoms we have,” Kinney expressed. “You can jump in the car with your parents and drive to Missoula from Superior without permission from someone and without stopping at any checkpoints along the way.”
Kinney shared with the students that we owe a great debt of gratitude to the men and woman who have served for us.
“And the easiest way to do that,” he said, “is to say thank you.”
The students gave a loud thank you to the men from the post sitting among them and to the veterans who were not present. Kinney challenged the audience that when they see someone in their military garb to go up and say thanks.
“They give the ultimate sacrifice,” Kinney said. “We need to remember them not just on this day and not only once a year.”
Following Kinney’s lesson, the students watched two videos on Veteran’s Day and then the sixth graders shared essays that they had wrote on what Americanism means to them.
“We all have our own idea of what Americanism is, but for me it’s one word, courage,” Nathan Lapinski said.
Lapinski went on to explain how throughout history courage has enabled people to stand up for what they believe in. From the signing of the Declaration of Independence to the north and south fighting for what they believed, courage, Lapinski said, seemed to be evident throughout otherwise where would things be now if everyone was afraid?
Kinney ended the assembly by reiterating that Veteran’s Day is not just any day, but a day of great significance. With that, the men from the VFW Post retrieved the colors from the gym and it’s now up to us to remember them as we continue through the rest of the year and into the next. Never forgetting what they give so we can enjoy our lives here.