thedrifter
05-27-09, 07:27 AM
Sullivan Middle honors armed forces
By Shawn Cetrone · CCI Newsgate Feed
Updated 05/27/09 - 12:00 AM |
The rifle stood upright, a soldier's helmet perched on the barrel's end. A pair of black leather boots rested beside them on the stage.
Sullivan Middle School leaders organized the makeshift soldier memorial as part of its Tuesday ceremony celebrating those who serve in the American military.
Military veteran members of a local honor guard arrived in uniform and formation, demonstrating for the crowd.
“This isn't a pep rally. It's not really an assembly,” Principal Michael Waiksnis told the audience. “It's a ceremony remembering something that's important to our country.”
Later, several eighth-graders acted out a scene from the book “America's White Table” by Margot Theis Raven, which teaches children how to dress a table with a white cloth to honor veterans. The crowd of teachers, students and visitors sang along to portions of the official songs from the Army, Navy, Marines and Air Force.
A wall just outside the auditorium was decorated with a red, white and blue display of names and photos of students' and faculty's relatives and friends who are serving or have served.
Instructional Coach Chris Senbertrand-McLean said she and another faculty member planned the event when they expected students would be in school on Memorial Day to make up for a day they missed when it snowed. After state lawmakers changed that requirement, Senbertrand-McLean said they chose to move the ceremony ahead a day.
The intent, she said, was to remind students that “Memorial Day is about more than the beach.”
Waiksnis said the event is one of several he hopes bring in students' families as well as people without children in the school.
“It was beautiful,” guidance counselor Sandra Holeman said. “Emotionally, I couldn't handle the bagpipes.”
Holeman's 29-year-old son, an Army staff sergeant, has been in Iraq for the last eight years, and is on his third tour there.
“I thought (the ceremony) was great,” seventh-grader Dakota Fenton said. “Considering the fact that we've been fighting in wars since we got our independence and before.”
Fenton, 13, who hopes to become a Marine sniper, said the ceremony hit home because his cousin Robbie's Army convoy two years ago ran over an improvised explosive device in Iraq. Although his back was injured, Fenton said, his cousin is OK. Also, Fenton said his dad was in the Navy and his uncle was in the Coast Guard.
Sullivan Middle put on the hour-long event once in the morning and again in the afternoon. Before each ceremony closed, the crowd silently listened to the melody taps.
Ellie
By Shawn Cetrone · CCI Newsgate Feed
Updated 05/27/09 - 12:00 AM |
The rifle stood upright, a soldier's helmet perched on the barrel's end. A pair of black leather boots rested beside them on the stage.
Sullivan Middle School leaders organized the makeshift soldier memorial as part of its Tuesday ceremony celebrating those who serve in the American military.
Military veteran members of a local honor guard arrived in uniform and formation, demonstrating for the crowd.
“This isn't a pep rally. It's not really an assembly,” Principal Michael Waiksnis told the audience. “It's a ceremony remembering something that's important to our country.”
Later, several eighth-graders acted out a scene from the book “America's White Table” by Margot Theis Raven, which teaches children how to dress a table with a white cloth to honor veterans. The crowd of teachers, students and visitors sang along to portions of the official songs from the Army, Navy, Marines and Air Force.
A wall just outside the auditorium was decorated with a red, white and blue display of names and photos of students' and faculty's relatives and friends who are serving or have served.
Instructional Coach Chris Senbertrand-McLean said she and another faculty member planned the event when they expected students would be in school on Memorial Day to make up for a day they missed when it snowed. After state lawmakers changed that requirement, Senbertrand-McLean said they chose to move the ceremony ahead a day.
The intent, she said, was to remind students that “Memorial Day is about more than the beach.”
Waiksnis said the event is one of several he hopes bring in students' families as well as people without children in the school.
“It was beautiful,” guidance counselor Sandra Holeman said. “Emotionally, I couldn't handle the bagpipes.”
Holeman's 29-year-old son, an Army staff sergeant, has been in Iraq for the last eight years, and is on his third tour there.
“I thought (the ceremony) was great,” seventh-grader Dakota Fenton said. “Considering the fact that we've been fighting in wars since we got our independence and before.”
Fenton, 13, who hopes to become a Marine sniper, said the ceremony hit home because his cousin Robbie's Army convoy two years ago ran over an improvised explosive device in Iraq. Although his back was injured, Fenton said, his cousin is OK. Also, Fenton said his dad was in the Navy and his uncle was in the Coast Guard.
Sullivan Middle put on the hour-long event once in the morning and again in the afternoon. Before each ceremony closed, the crowd silently listened to the melody taps.
Ellie