Walnut Ridge honors veterans

VERNON — Walnut Ridge Primary School invited veterans (both past and present) to join in the school’s annual parade in honor of Veterans Day on Tuesday, Nov. 8.
According to Principal Rosemary Gebhardt, almost 100 veterans attended the event and marched with the students. Also present was the Vernon Township High School Viking Marching Band performing patriotic songs for the crowd.
“This has been a tradition for a long time, and each year we add onto it,” Gebhardt said. “This year, the students acted out performance pieces with poetry, singing and dancing. It’s really a part of our social studies unit on civics and character education.”
Leading up to Election Day, the students learned about the voting process and how the United States presidential election works in “Scholastic News.” After the performance part of the day, students participated in a mock election with registration cards assigned to each individual. Each grade had its own district/area where the children submitted their votes electronically. “Veterans Day fits together with the election,” Gebhardt continues, “And the program helps to teach about holidays, their meanings and how they are celebrated. In this case, students learn how they can honor and show respect towards those that have served. It’s about teaching them the concept of one vote, one voice.”
The children voted on their favorite color, song and movie. Red won by one vote. The winning song was Justin Timberlake’s “Can’t Stop the Feeling” and the favorite movie Space Buddies (G-rated) will be featured at School and Community Association-sponsored Family Movie Night in March.
Kelly Connington, 7, Emily Gosses, 6 and Anna King, 6 were the three winners of the Vernon VFW patriotic portrait coloring contest.