Veterans appreciate special day at school

Marine veteran Joe Walker stood in the gymnasium door as his two children joined a 500-voice chorus of “God Bless the U.S.A.” Thursday afternoon at Shiloh Hills Elementary.

Walker was impressed to see a hundred or so veterans at the school’s annual Veterans Day ceremony.

“This is awesome. I don’t remember doing anything like this in school,” Walker said.

The 27-year-old Rogers High School alumnus enlisted two days after graduation. He wanted to attend Thursday’s event, but he wasn’t sure he could make it. At the last moment, his boss at a manufacturing company shifted Walker’s schedule so he could come. Walker’s daughter waved happily when she saw him in the doorway.

The event began with students escorting their veteran relatives to chairs. It ended with another ushered walk to a reception of cookies made by the school staff.

Each class had learned a new song. Even a group of teachers did a version of “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy in Company B.” Every veteran received a thank-you card from a student and a student-made medal of honor.

Larry Severin, who in 1985 retired as a master chief in the Navy after 30 years, was impressed by the whole affair. On the way to the reception, he looked down at his granddaughter hooked into his arm and said, “Grandpa’s proud of you.”

Severin, who served on the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk, said she invited him two weeks ago. He thought, “How could I miss it?”

In all, 130 invitations went out to veterans. Severin wasn’t surprised to see that so many came.

“The older generation, we’re there. We will always be there,” Severin said.

This year’s event was organized by a student committee and led by teacher Justin Valentine. In years past, he helped the original event organizer, Georganne McDonald, who’s been a teacher for about 40 years. Several years ago she brought her appreciation of Veterans Day to the north Spokane school.

Her dedication to the holiday came from an experience 30 years ago. That year on Veterans Day, McDonald saw one of her students in Bozeman, Mont., and realized that her student had no idea why they both had the day off.

“I want my children to know that it’s a day of remembering and honor,” said McDonald, whose aunts and uncles served in the armed forces.

This was the first year McDonald turned over lead organizing duties to someone else.

Planning began in mid-October. Valentine drew more vets this year than last. Next year he plans to bring a performance to the Masonic Temple, which will take a little more time.

“A lot of (veterans) said they’ve never seen a display of appreciation like this,” Valentine said. Other teachers said they noticed the misty eyes and obvious enjoyment as the veterans listened to the children’s songs.

“This is a good introduction to what a veteran is,” Valentine said. “A lot of students are surprised to see how many veterans are younger.”

Student Richard Bondurant, 8, said it was a “lot of work” to learn new songs. Many students also helped decorate the halls with tributes to each branch of the armed forces.

But the work paid off afterward, when one veteran looked Bondurant in the eye and said, “Good job.”