Honoring Veterans at Woodland Elementary School in 2001

Veterans Day 2001

Bobby Simma, with Dayna Simma looking on,
 introduced Nelda Shafer with her guest, Ernest Hood,
 a WWII veteran.

      In the fall of 2001, the cleanup at the World Towers continued, the stock market had plummeted, and the United States reeled from the horrid day exactly two months earlier. Our principal, Bobby Simma, with his faculty, decided to use 2001 Veterans Day to honor living veterans, first responders in the 2001 attack devastation, deceased veterans, and of course, the soldiers serving the country at that time. The celebration occurred on November 12, 2001, according to the photographs’ notations.

Nelda Shafer led her fourth grade class in a recitation to the honored veterans. Notice
the patriotic neckerchiefs worn proudly by these 4th graders.

             Claude Shafer, the husband of Mrs. Shafer was introduced by their older grandson, Jim Ed Mashburn. Mr. Shafer was accompanied by his twin brother, Clyde Shafer, who had also served in World War II. Jim Ed's grandpa praised Fairfax High School for the education he received - particularly being taught to type. He credited his typing skills acquired at FHS for keeping him out of the trenches in the Pacific Theater.

Mr. Simma, Claude Shafer, Jim Ed Mashburn, and
Clyde Shafer during the Veterans Day assembly on
 November 12, 2001, at the Woodland Elementary
School.  

Dawn Anson, Edmund Gates, Jr., Ethan Anson,
with Kelsie Anson in front.

       As soon as Ethan Anson heard about the upcoming Veterans Day commemoration, he thought of his neighbor and relative, Edmund Gates, Jr. His mother, Dawn, arranged for him to interview his hero. He thought it was pretty cool that he was interviewing his third grade teacher's father!

        Students prepared songs and recitations for weeks to perform for the honored veterans and parents in attendance. The powerful words, time-tested melodies, and rousing rhythms etched a lifelong impact on those elementary students' hearts.

First and Second Graders Sang with heartfelt enthusiasm.

        Art projects lined the hallways of the elementary building. Children had endeavored to do their best work to honor the men and women who had risk their lives to preserve freedom for our nation.

  Third Graders' poetry and songs performance displayed the results of their hard work.

         Little did the students realize that these moments of remembering and recognizing the immense sacrifice of those who had come before them would remain in their memories and impact the values they carried into adulthood.

Fourth Graders sang by memory rousing patriotic songs.

        Many of the students interviewed family members who had served our country. Then each student created a presentation with the facts of their loved ones accompanied by interesting photographs. These were hung in the hallway in an area designated Veterans Wall of Honor and Remembrance.

       My father enjoyed interacting with people. Sharing his military account with kids served a dual purpose. Enlightening the young students to the history of World War II as he had "lived it" was the best way to 

My father, Edmund Gates, Jr. and Ethan
Anson, who was not only a third grade
student, but also he and I both share the
 same ancestors -  Rosa and William Rainey.

teach them of the past. I think he

   

Veterans Wall of Honor and Remembrance

realized sharing his experience with others served as a positive therapeutic exercise that helped him. The highlight of  that 2001 Veterans Day observance culminated with his visiting the third graders in our classroom.

Kelsie and Ethan Anson, Ashley Fosnight,
my father, Rebecca Ellis, Cody VanDusen,
and Jim Ed Mashburn. Dad was impressed
with how carefully they attended to the
 details about his time in England.   

Cody VanDusen and Mason Parker listened, 
absorbing the details as Dad explained
 about his B-17 bombing crew photograph.

Be sure to express your gratitude to veterans this Veterans Day. Ask these worthy veterans where and how they served. Then thank them again.