Barnesville Students Pay Respect to Veterans

“Our veterans represent the very best of America. They have bravely answered the call to serve in the finest military force in the world, and they have earned the dignity that comes with wearing the uniform and defending our great flag. On Veterans Day, we honor all Americans who have served in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard, both in times of war and peace. For nearly 100 years, since the end of World War I, Veterans Day has given us a time to pay due respect to our veterans, who have passed the torch of liberty from one generation to the next.”
That is the opening quote from the Presidential Proclamation of Veterans Day 2017, read aloud by Asher (grade 5) to students and faculty of Barnesville School of Arts & Sciences gathered for the School’s annual Veterans Day commemoration.
Barnesville parent Rawle Munro who works at the Pentagon and serves in the Army National Guard shared his personal story of growing up in a military family. He recalled bagging groceries in the commissary and watching his mother put on her combat boots before kissing him goodbye when she left for weekend duty. He said that his uncle teased that “His momma wore combat boots!” to which Munro replied proudly, “Yes she does!” Munro quizzed Barnesville students about the meaning of Veterans Day and signed autographs for the appreciative audience.
As part of the Veterans Day event, students were encouraged to make a small, personal donation to the Fisher House Foundation which provides free or low cost lodging to veterans and military families receiving treatment at military medical centers.
The ceremony included the Pledge of Allegiance, readings, and a song. Students also planted American flags along the School’s driveway and decorated red, white, and blue stars honoring family members and friends who served from the time of the American Revolution through to the more recent conflicts of Afghanistan and Iraq.
The Barnesville School has a long-standing tradition of honoring military service. Each year, Lower School students write letters of thanks to active duty service members.
The annual Veterans Day ceremony is organized by Dona Kaufman, the School’s Teaching and Learning Coordinator.
A photo album can be viewed on Facebook.
Barnesville School of Arts & Sciences is an independent private school in Montgomery County, Maryland offering innovative preschool through 8th grade programs. Cross-curricular teaching encourages students to explore how subjects relate to one another, helping them to make connections that spark inquiry and deepen understanding. Small classes enable skilled teachers to engage each child in an academically challenging environment. Our 30-acre campus is our extended classroom, and we integrate nature into everyday learning. Barnesville is certified as a Maryland Green School by the Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education, demonstrating achievement in curriculum and instruction, community partnerships, and best management practices.