STUDENTS CELEBRATE VETERANS DAY WITH DRIVE-THROUGH PARADE
With flags flying and patriotic music playing , students at Wester Middle School , Jerry Knight STEM Academy and Asa Low Intermediate School joined to honor members of the Mansfield ISD community who served in our country ’ s armed forces .
The schools had previously celebrated indoors , but in 2020 during COVID , they moved to an outdoor , drivethrough parade where the veterans make a loop – driving past the three schools – and students line the sidewalks , holding hand-painted signs , to cheer them on .
Wester Middle School principal Kourtney Gates said the veterans loved the outdoor parade so much , they stuck with it , and Gates says this is her favorite day of the year . On this cloudy , cool November day , Gates , wearing a Marines headband , walked along the parade route handing out dozens of miniature flags to her students .
“ It ’ s a day where kids can show their hearts ,” Gates said . “ This is a day where they can honor veterans and think of others .”
Jerry Poteet , an 86-year-old Vietnam veteran , is in his second year of participating in the parade . His granddaughter attends Wester Middle School and rides alongside him in an open-air military vehicle .
“ It ’ s a major holiday but you don ’ t normally find young people celebrating Veterans Day ,” Poteet said . “ We old guys do . but I ’ m thrilled that we ’ re putting this in the minds of our young people .”
For students like Kinley Pepperling , who have members of their family in the military , it ’ s meaningful to see others saying thank you to the veterans for their hard work and sacrifice .
“ They are so determined to help all of us , and it just makes my heart feel warm ,” Pepperling said .
Steve Burney spent four years in the Air Force and is now a commercial airline pilot . He hopes seeing the diversity of military veterans – men and women and from different backgrounds and branches of the armed forces – encourages students to consider serving their country .
“ I think it ’ s a great lesson and I think it ’ s a great thing for kids in general ,” Burney said . “ Coming out of high school – I didn ’ t know what I wanted to do . You grow up really quick and learn responsibility at a young age .”
Wester Middle School , Jerry Knight STEM Academy and Asa Low Intermediate Schools joined on Nov . 10 to honor members of the Mansfield ISD community who served in our country ’ s armed forces .
27 MANSFIELDTODAY