Elementary students honor vets
Friday morning, Pine Island Elementary students and staff honored a number of local veterans, more that 75 of them seated in the pavilion, with their annual Veterans Day Thank You program.
“Amazing touching moving a true tribute!”
Those are just some of the words that have been used to describe the annual Veterans Day program put on by the students and staff at Pine Island Elementary.
“We are here this morning living and enjoying the land of the free and the home of the brave because of the dedication and service of our veterans we honor today,” Pine Island Elementary Principal Steve Hook said.
The program was opened by Lisa Thorpe and her son, Aaron, leading the Pledge of Allegiance and National Anthem. Aaron’s dad, Sgt. Steve Thorpe, is currently serving in the Middle East.
Approximately 75-80 veterans were in attendance. Veterans service ranged from World War II to more recent Middle East veterans. Representatives from every military branch – Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard and Air Force – were present, as well as one Merchant Marine.
Ron Ward served in the United States Marine Corps and currently has a grandson serving in the Marines. Ward was attending the program for his third year.
“This year I brought my brother Bob, who served in the United States Navy,” Ward said. “This is the most amazing thing ever, it brings tears to my eyes every year. This is a very special place and I’m blessed to be here on Pine island.”
“Students begin working on the event more than a month in advance to make sure they are honoring the veterans in the best possible way,” PIE music and art teacher Mrs. Van Duser said.
Weeks before the school year started, staff began inviting veterans to the event. On Friday, as veterans began arriving, they were escorted by student ambassadors to the media center where coffee was served. Just before the program started, the veterans were once again escorted by student ambassadors to the pavilion. Art Arway provided the bagpipe music as veterans entered the pavilion.
Students were asked to write an essay about what Veterans Day means to them. Ruby George delivered the following address:
“Good morning. On behalf of the students and the entire school, I would like to thank the veterans. Thank you all for coming here today. Thank you for keeping our air, water and land safe – we are all very grateful for that. You risked your own lives for the country you live in and that takes a lot of courage, strength and honor. I personally am proud of my great-grandfather who was in the Army during World War II. He was captured as a prisoner in Germany, which he eventually was able to escape. He was awarded the Purple Heart and still lives in Florida at the age of 95. I am also very proud of my Papa, who is here today who served our country in the Marine Corps. Papa, thank you. Veterans, thank you. You all are now, and always have been, heroes around the country. You represent our country because you are the ones that fought for it, no matter if you went off and did big things, or smaller things – we thank you for all you did. When I think of the military, I think of honor. When I think of veterans, I think of people who serve for everyone – no exceptions. Again, we would really like to thank all of you for our freedoms and for a country we can be proud of.”
“This is always one of the most humbling programs we do at Pine Island Elementary and It is always our charge that our students know to respect and honor the flag and to respect and honor our veterans.”
Cape Coral Outback Steakhouse provided a catered lunch for the veterans.
“I also want to thank Outback Steakhouse for this wonderful meal for our veterans,” Hook said. “I especially loved their T-shirts that said, “Proud to serve those who served.”