STATE SENATOR VISITS MISD
FOR VETERANS DAY EVENT
“
Children need to realize
that what we have here is
freedom, and it’s not free.
GRACIE NELSON
VETERAN AND SECRETARY
“My favorite part was when they all
came in, and they were so proud, and
we started singing the song,” said
fourth-grader Dema Mohammed.
State Sen. Birdwell explains how the 9/11 attack at The Pentagon affected him.
W
ith a crowd wearing patriotic
colors adorned with paper
hats that said “thank you” on them,
the ceremony to honor the brave
men and women who served our
country was ready to begin.
Students and staff members at
Charlotte Anderson Elementary
School invited the military veterans
in their lives to attend their Veterans
Day celebration event on Nov. 8.
Boy scouts presented the colors,
the choir sang, and the guests of
honor watched as one of their
fellow servicemen spoke about
his experience in active duty.
“It doesn’t matter where you are
on the battlefield,” said State. Sen.
Brian Birdwell, who represents
District 22 and served in the U.S.
Army. “It’s that you raised your right
hand, said, ‘I’ll support and defend
the Constitution of the United States
against all enemies’—foreign and
domestic—and that you’re prepared
to potentially not just give a limb,
not just give an eye, but possibly give
your life in defense of the freedoms
that we enjoy in this country.”
Birdwell is a 9/11 survivor. He was
working at the Pentagon 18 years
22 MANSFIELDTODAY
ago when a hijacked plane crashed
into the building. He said he was
15 to 20 yards away from where
the nose of flight 77 penetrated.
The state representative spent years
recovering from his severe burns and
injuries. He earned a Purple Heart
for the wounds he received that day.
“We have an obligation to support
parents and teach those young
men and women to appreciate the
sacrifice of those who are serving
them, and that’s why it was so
important to be here today,” he said.
Anderson Elementary students said
showing their appreciation made them
feel good because they could sense the
feeling of pride it gave to the veterans.
Gracie Nelson, the principal’s secretary,
served in the Texas National Guard for
12 years. She said that although she
likes to remain behind the scenes, she
appreciates the tokens of gratitude. She
also uses the day to help others realize
the significance of military veterans.
“Children need to realize that what we
have here is freedom, and it’s not free,”
said Nelson. “There are people out
there right now; and if it wasn’t for all
those in the past who have gone before
us, we wouldn’t be here right now.”
Veterans Day is a federal holiday
observed annually on Nov. 11 to
honor people who served in the
United States Armed Forces.
Mansfield ISD schools and offices
were closed in honor of the
observance. However, several
MISD campuses held special
breakfasts, programs and events
to honor military veterans.
Veterans Day programs like this one teach kids what it means to serve others.