SHARPE – World War I ended on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918 and once called Armistise Day then changed to Veteran’s Day in 1954, Americans have honored the service of all U.S. military veterans on November 11th since 1919.
Sharpe Elementary held a special Veteran’s Day Celebration Tuesday evening which was a culmination of a 5th grade project that began in September with a visit to the Veteran’s Plaza at Mike Miller Park. While there, Jerry English spoke to the students, explaining the meaning behind everything they visited at the Veteran’s Plaza.
Fifth grade teachers Jennifer McClard, Blair Mathis and Tera Graham brought the students together and led them in a discussion about why they were there that day and from that day forward, the students have been working toward one guiding question – ‘how can they honor veterans’?
The students spent many days researching and learning about the various branches of the military, different wars and ways in which veterans have been honored in the past.
According to students, they were very excited about the project and ready to begin the work. They began by calling Veterans they knew and asking them to come to the school for interviews or conducted phone interviews as well as sending questionnaires in the mail. They spent a few weeks getting to know the Veterans, listening to their stories and learning from their experiences.
The students worked in groups to launch their projects and to create something that was totally their own, all the while reminded through the weeks of work why they needed to honor our Veterans.
During those weeks, the students learned a great deal about cooperation, interviewing, public speaking, critical thinking and problem solving, but more importantly, learned to be thankful for Veterans and their service to our country to provide freedom for each of them.
The program opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and National Anthem and included readings from students Elizabeth Staples and Alex Beaza and the singing of The Star Spangled Banner. Photos include the many projects the students worked on which were on display at the ceremony and a penny drive that raised $635 for the Wounded Warrior Project.
