Windham
fourth graders teamed with members of Center Stage for the Performing Arts in
Raymond in a special ceremony for local veterans this week at Manchester
School. The tribute, dedicated to all local men and women who have served, was
the 20th anniversary of the Veterans Day observance held at the
school.
Both
the students and veterans from Windham’s Veterans of Foreign Wars addressed each
other during the event. Bob Akins, past commander, shared stories and addressed
the special meaning of the holiday, while students proudly displayed their Wall
of Heroes, which featured pictures and stories of relatives who have served.
Akins
and other legion guests said the purpose of the annual assembly is to teach
about freedom and Americanism.
“To
let them know what freedom is, and how freedom isn’t free. As veterans it’s our
duty to educate youth on the meaning of patriotism and what is special about
our country,” said Akins.
A
highlight was a masterfully choreographed performance by girls from Center
Stage who marched, sang and danced to a variety of patriotic songs and themes.
Akins
paid special tribute to John Spring, Jr., a US Marine veteran from Windham, who
led a unit during a fire fight against the Taliban in Afghanistan. Spring
dragged a wounded soldier to safety during the fight, and then returned to cover
the injured man’s machine gun, for which he was awarded a bronze star. Spring,
Akins pointed out, sat in this building as a fourth grader during the first
Manchester School veterans assembly back in 1996.
At
one point the kids were given a Veterans Day quiz. Veterans of Foreign Wars
post commander Willie Goodman asked what Veterans Day used to be called
(Armistice Day); what year it was declared a federal holiday (1938); the
significance of 11/11/11 (the date we pause to remember veterans at 11 a.m.);
and the official flower symbol of Veterans Day (the poppy). A surprising number
of the fourth graders knew the answers, but most thought the flower would be
the rose.
The
significance of the occasion was brought closer to the students following the
ceremony when veterans and kids together visited the large hallway bulletin
board dubbed Wall of Heroes. Students in teacher Carol Otley’s class had posted
the names and pictures of family members who were veterans, enshrined within
stars cut from construction paper along with their rank, service pictures,
years served and brief stories. The two groups lingered, shared and answered
questions before concluding the special day.
Asked
about the morning program, shared with veterans in full dress uniforms, several
students from Mrs. Otley’s class shared their thoughts:
“I
feel proud to be related to someone who was so amazing and brave.” Molly Plati, 10, stated proudly.
“I
appreciate how they fought for us and risked their lives,” said 9-year-old
Hannah Bowker.
“I
feel good about what they fought for, and I like hearing their stories,” said
Morgan Farley, 10.
Mia
White, 10, said, “I feel important that I have a veteran in my family. They
risked their lives.”
She
then added that there are five veterans in her family. Asked which one she
picked for the Wall of Heroes, she answered firmly, “All of them!” 
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