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October/November 2013
Page 11
arlington elementary school
Arlington Elementary Honors Military, Public Safety Workers at Freedom Walk
By Ashley Onsby, AES PTA President
Despite the tragic
history of the day, September 11, 2013, was a
great day at Arlington
Elementary School. It was
a day filled with emotion
as students and their families honored America and
her heroes. With a desire
to help students understand the importance of
patriotism and to foster a
deep love for country,
Arlington Elementary
School PTA along with
Freedom Walk chairpersons, Kari Tidwell and
Jodie Perkins, collaborated to bring special meaning to the day. This year,
in addition to the traditional Freedom Walk
parade, Tidwell and Perkins engineered a schoolwide assembly held in the
school’s bus circle.
Featured in the assembly were long-time
fire fighter and Mayor
Mike Wissman, select
AES students, retired
Marine Master Sergeant
Jim Brown, founder of
Forever Young Senior
Wish Foundation Mrs.
Diane Hight, WWII POW
Veteran Mr. W. T. Hawkins, U.S. Navy Veteran
Mr. Jack Taylor, and a
Marine Color Guard.
The students of AES
Photo Courtesy of Arlington Elementary School
Pictured L to R:Connor Christian, Lydia English, Cullan Venceil, Myles McClinton, Lily Todorowski, Mayor Mike Wissman, Whitman Owen, Principal Gina Gore,
Seth Buchanan, Whitney Servello, Rebecca Latimer, Sydney Thompson, Caden
Russell and Aryana Shaw
were asked to submit an
entry telling what it
means to them to be an
American. They spoke of
family members who
serve in the military to
protect America, as well
as firefighter fathers who
rescue those in need. They
spoke of their freedom to
be unique and to be the
very best version of themselves that they can be.
Hearing the children
speak innocently and
from the heart about
America and her heroes
was definitely a highlight
of the day. Third grader,
Rebecca Latimer, amazed
both parents and peers
when she sang the Nation-
al Anthem a capella.
When asked if she wanted
to sing to music, she boldly stated, “No, I’m just
going to go for it!” And
that, she did.
Another
touching
moment came from Mr.
Jim Brown who gave a
very eloquent recital of
the significance of each
fold of our country’s flag
while the Color Guard
performed a ceremonial
flag folding. Following
the folding, Principal
Gina Gore was noticeably
emotional as Mr. Brown
presented the flag to her
to be flown on the
school’s flag pole.
One of AES’s very
own students also had a
flag to dedicate to the
school. Cullan Venceil
and his mother, Mrs. Nicole Conway, presented a
flag that Cullan’s stepfather, Sgt. Blaise R. Conway U. S. M. C., flew in
Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom
on behalf of the students
of AES on July 16, 2013.
Sgt. Conway is with
VMGR-252 out of Cherry
Point, NC. He flew 119
missions and one strike in
the Helmand River Valley. Principal Gore was
honored to accept this
flag, and it will be displayed in the front lobby
of the school in its display
case.
Mrs. Tidwell and
Mrs. Perkins also wanted
to add live patriotic music
to the Freedom Walk.
They recruited the Sgt. W.
K. Singleton Pipes and
Drums, an all volunteer
group that performs
throughout the Mid-south.
Music included traditional
Scottish and Irish tunes,
as well as American Patriotic music.
September 11, 2013,
was a day that will not
soon be forgotten by those
in attendance. AES Librarian LeAn Inman stated, “Today's program was
the best one I have EVER
been to in my life- I don’t
just mean school program,
I mean ever! Thank you
for making today a learning experience for ALL of
us and a priority to take
time out to honor and love
those that allow us to live
in a free country. It was a
very special morning!”
The
assembly
brought tears of joy and
pride to many on a day
that has brought innumerable tears of pain and
agony since that horrific
day in 2001. While looking back to that day to
honor those who protect
this great land, one was
able to catch a glimpse of
a brightly shining future
through the eyes of the
children
of
AES.