The
kindergarten through first grade students at Windham Christian Academy hosted
and honored approximately 20 local veterans with their third Annual Veterans’
Breakfast on Friday, November 10 from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
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| WCA students and the guests |
This
yearly event is the brainchild of first and second grade teacher, Lynn Dodd.
“I
feel it is important for the next generation to know the sacrifices that were
made in order to have the freedoms we have today,” explained Dodd, and that
this was the purpose behind this annual event. “Also, my husband is a Vietnam
Vet and I know how important it is to show appreciation to all our veterans.”
The
morning began with a Pledge of Allegiance to the U.S. Flag as well as to The
Christian Flag pledge and the singing of The National Anthem.
Breakfast
immediately followed and was supplied by parents. Food items included: scrambled
eggs, bacon, ham, donuts, pancakes, crepes, orange juice and coffee. Students
sat by their guest veterans who they had previously interviewed for an
assignment.
Prior
to the appreciation breakfast, the class got to know their individual veteran.
“As a class, we sent out an interview sheet to the veterans that each student
wanted to get to know,” explained Dodd. “The students learned, through the
interview process, important information such as what branch of service their veteran
belonged to, what they liked best and least about being in the service as well
as what type of job they had.”
Although
there were many learning outcomes to this event and class assignment, the most
surprising factor the students learned was that not all individuals who join
the armed forces fight on the front lines. “The students were surprised to
discover that most veterans have jobs such as cooks, tailors and carpenters and
that they don’t necessary shoot guns,” explained Dodd.
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| Students entertaining their guests |
Other
important knowledge gained by the students was that of social etiquette and
event planning. Dodd explained that all the students participated in the
planning and decorating for this annual Veterans’ Breakfast Event. Once their guest
veteran arrived, they met them at the door, sat at the table with them and
spoke with them as one would expect of any host.
Each
veteran had the opportunity to introduce themselves and the roles they carried
out while in the Armed Forces. Second grader, Caleb Johnson’s grandfather,
Walter Johnson, was one of those veterans. “I served during the Korean War from
1953-1955,” Johnson explained. “I was stationed in Manheim, Germany and worked
in the administrative and technology portion of the library.”
Upon
conclusion of breakfast and prior to each veteran introducing themselves and
their roles in the armed forces, the students performed the song, “I'm in the Lord's
Army” and read a poem written by the students collaboratively. “From this poem,
they learned that the word integrity
means doing the right thing even when no one else is looking,” explained Dodd.
“That is what our military has to do.”
When
Dodd asked her students what they learned from this year’s event, she received
many thought-provoking answers. “Some veterans were together in the same room
and got to meet each other for the first time,” explained second-grader, Liam
Kindred. “Some discovered that they were both in the same war and because of
that, they got to meet new friends.”
One
student noticed how happy the veterans seemed at being honored and given an
opportunity to talk about their experiences. “I noticed that all the veterans
were smiling,” second-grader Avery Sands observed.
The
students, however, were not the only ones who had insight regarding the annual
Breakfast Event. Former Windham Christian Academy student, Ben Manning, who is
was recently discharged from the Navy shared a thought when it was his turn to
introduce himself.
“I
would like to take a moment to thank all the Korean and Vietnam Veterans who
served before me,” Manning began. “When you came home from the wars, your
reception by the public was not a positive one but you changed that for the
younger generations. As a result, whether or not people agree with the war now,
they still show their support to us troops. Thank you for doing that.”
With
that, the annual breakfast concluded with plans to host a fourth annual
Veterans’ Breakfast next year.
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