Veterans Day 2014

On November 11, 2014 schools across the Garfield School District celebrated Veterans Day by holding school assemblies, flag raising ceremonies, and hearing from veterans in our communities. I would personally like to thank all of the veterans for their service and sacrifice they have provided to allow each of us to live in the wonderful United States of America. I would also like to thank the veterans in our communities who provide our schools with privileged opportunities such as hearing veterans speak about their service, to see veterans in their caps, or those who have helped to raise flags in our schools. It is vitally important for students to hear from veterans so they can begin to understand what great sacrifices were made by these individuals and so they can appreciate the freedoms we all enjoy. I would also like to thank the teachers for inviting veterans into their classrooms to share with students what it means to be a veteran. I know many times veterans may be reluctant to talk to students or show up to school assemblies, but please know we need our students to see and hear from you even if it only includes sitting on the stage during a veteran’s assembly. We all need to be constantly reminded of what it means to be a veteran and pay tribute to each of you for your service. On a personal level, my 2nd grade student came home from school wanting to know if we had any veterans in our family. With this question, I was able to take him to a veteran’s memorial wall and show him his grandfather and great grandfather’s names etched in stone and talk to him about what it means to be a veteran. The first thing I look for when I enter a school is to check the flag pole to make sure the United States flag is flying and the flag is in good repair.

–Superintendent Ben Dalton