Story by Ainsley Hall
HEDGESVILLE — Many schools throughout the area recognized local veterans for Veterans Day, including Back Creek Valley Elementary School, which put together a special program for family members who served in the military on Thursday.
Veterans were invited to come to the school for breakfast and to watch their student sing and spend time with them at the school. Each of them was recognized for their dedication and sacrifice to protect the country.
School counselor Mark Cagle started this event two years ago when he began working at Back Creek Valley Elementary. He helped organize a similar event at his previous school and wanted to continue to do something to recognize veterans and all that they’ve done.
“There are veterans everywhere, and they all deserve to be honored,” Cagle said. “Down here in the valley, there are a lot of people with a lot of American pride, so we think it’s important to recognize the veterans.”
After reaching out to parents and family members, between 20-30 veterans attended the event. Central Chapel, a church just down the street from the school, came to serve the veterans breakfast to thank them for their service.
Meanwhile, students welcomed the veterans by waving flags, creating artwork to hang in the school hallway and singing songs thanking them for everything they’ve done.
“It’s nice to see this generational collaboration as parents and grandparents come to support their kids or grandkids,” Cagle said. “I think the next generation is losing touch with patriotism, so this is a good way to introduce the kids to that and teach them to appreciate the sacrifices these men and women made.”
One way the school recognized the veterans was by sharing a slide show with their pictures and their military branches. One of the veterans they recognized included Back Creek Valley Elementary’s gym teacher, Dylan Tryon. He was honored to be recognized with the other veterans during the event.
“It’s nice that community members from the church take the time out of their busy days to do something special for us,” Tryon said. “It means a lot to be recognized and acknowledged during an event like this.”
It was a great opportunity for families to get involved in the school, as they listened to kindergartners and first and second-grade students perform special songs they prepared just for them. Students learned about the sacrifices they made and appreciate everything they’ve done to keep American citizens free.