Learning Through Service: Students Celebrate Sacrifice and Freedom

Under clear afternoon skies on Thursday, November 6, the school community at E. Wilson Morrison Elementary came together for its fifth annual Veterans Day ceremony—a heartfelt tradition led by students to honor local servicemen and women.

Organized by the school’s EarlyAct Club, 4-H Club, and Bobcat Chorus, the event was attended by parents, elected officials, and honored guests who gathered outside the school to show their respect and gratitude.

Michael Williams, EarlyAct advisor and faculty member, welcomed attendees and shared the importance of the moment. He acknowledged the fragility of freedoms and the need for community remembrance, thanking veterans for their service and families for their support.

The program opened with the Bobcat Chorus performing the national anthem, followed by a recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. Students then took turns stepping to the microphone to deliver short poems and personal messages, thanking veterans for their courage and sacrifice.

As part of the ceremony, Williams invited veterans from each military branch to raise their hands, and many in the audience proudly responded. From Army to Coast Guard, each veteran present was acknowledged with a round of applause and heartfelt appreciation.

He also shared his own connection to military service, noting his upbringing as an “Air Force brat” while his father served as a canine handler, and his pride in his son’s upcoming enlistment in the Air Force. “Whether you’re a child of a veteran, a veteran yourself, or the grandchild of a veteran—thank you for your service and thank you for loving this country,” he said.

In a symbolic gesture of remembrance, children were invited to plant small American flags across the school lawn—each one a visual reminder of the lives touched by service and sacrifice.

And in a moment of surprise, song, and shared learning, Williams invited the adults in the crowd to help teach the younger students the patriotic hymn, “My Country, ’Tis of Thee.” As voices joined together across generations, the meaning of the day was brought into clear focus: to remember, to teach, and to honor.

The ceremony concluded with warm farewells and quiet reflection, leaving those in attendance moved by the sincerity and gratitude expressed by the youngest members of the community.

As Veterans Day approaches, the event at E. Wilson Morrison stands as a local reminder that remembrance begins in the classroom—and that patriotism, when nurtured early, can echo across lifetimes.

Video by Mark Williams, Royal Examiner.