The Bellwood-Antis School District has set aside some time on Monday, Nov. 10 to give students an opportunity to learn more about the men and woman who have fought and continue to fight everyday for all our simple freedoms.
“This just happens to fall in during ‘National Veterans Awareness Week,’ so the timing is perfect,” said Diana Worthing, an organizer of the event. “In the recent past, there has been a noted decrease in young people’s knowledge of veterans and their contributions to this country. Kids need to know why they have the freedoms they have. They need to know that everything they have comes with a price.”
According to Worthing, whose daughter attends West Point Academy, there will be two programs scheduled Nov. 10 – one in the morning for the elementary students and one in the afternoon for middle and high school students. The general public is invited to both sessions.
According to Worthing, the elementary program will differ slightly from the afternoon program. During the morning session, there will be more patriotic singing than hearing people speak. She said retired and active military personnel will talk to the students in the classrooms. She also said the classes wrote letters to local military personnel last winter and some of those who received letters will talk with the classes.
During the afternoon session, the older students will learn more from military personnel. Worthing said there will be recognition of veterans, POWs and MIAs, as well as a “Missing Man Chair” to symbolize those who fought or are fighting for the country that couldn’t be at the event.
Worthing said the elementary-aged students have been working on patriotic songs and a group would attend the afternoon session to sing.
The morning session begins at 10 a.m. and the afternoon activities kick off at 1:30 p.m.
Also, Worthing asks any veteran or current active military personnel who would like to speak to a class sometime in the future is encouraged to contact 742-8316 and leave a message.
