Corron Gives Veterans a Special Salute

Hanover Park resident Don Devine arrived at St. Charles School District 303's  Corron Elementary School  in South Elgin Wednesday, thinking he was going to watch his two granddaughters in one of their  school productions.

"I thought it was some kind of play they were doing," he said.

To his surprise, the United States Air Force veteran who served from 1955-1959 was honored along with 30 other military veterans in a special schoolwide Veterans Day program entitled "Honoring All Who Served."

"The kids really impressed me," he said. "It made me feel good."

Corron students have been honoring Veterans Day in this fashion for four years.

"I think the kids really like this program because they think it's important," said fifth grade teacher Kristy Averett. "The kids get very excited because there are so many special people attending."

This year's program honored the largest amount of veterans thus far, each of whom is a close relative of a student at Corron.

Fifth-grade student council members greeted each veteran as he entered the school, and escorted him to the cafeteria.

Although the fifth-graders played the greatest role in the program, with several giving presentations on each branch of the military and the fifth-grade choir performing, the entire student body helped choose the songs that the choir sang, which included "This is America," "Thank You Soldiers," and "God Bless the USA."

The entire assembly also recited the Pledge of Allegiance and sang the national anthem and "God Bless America."

Veterans were recognized according to the branch of military in which they served, and each one was presented with a gift box of chocolates by their special Corron student who chose to honor them.

Among those recognized was Joseph Jensen of Evergreen Park, whose niece Jessica Pedersen-Potorny is a third-grader at Corron.

"I think this is great," said Jensen, who served in the Army from 1969-71. "It's nice to see, because there wasn't too much recognition of the military back when I was serving."

Veterans who were unable to attend the program or have died were honored with photos that were posted throughout the school halls.

Following the program, the veterans were guests at a reception in the school library, where fifth-graders were given the chance to meet them and ask questions about the experiences they had serving their country.

"It's good for the veterans to have contact with the kids, even if they don't know all of them," Averett said.