Area schools plan events to honor veterans

Guts and glory are the two things students think of first.

"Kids ask me all the time, 'When you were in Iraq, did you shoot people?'" said Dr. Andrew Rogers, assistant principal of West Lane Elementary School in Jackson.

"No, I did not. I helped with their sewer, their water, electricity and agriculture systems," he responds, dispelling misconceptions that war is only about destruction.

For the youngest of pupils, explaining sacrifice and commitment can be difficult. Rogers compares service to getting a puppy: There are rewards but responsibilities.

At schools across Southeast Missouri, teachers are planning lessons on what it means to be a citizen of the United States, the cost of freedom, the importance of voting and how to honor those who fought for America.

Lt. Col. Rogers will be among those honored at a small Veterans Day ceremony Tuesday at Gordonville Elementary School, where Rogers was principal before his second tour of duty in Iraq.

Schools elsewhere will hold assemblies, parades and lunches.

Jackson's annual assembly

Jackson High School will hold its annual assembly at 9 a.m. Tuesday, featuring songs, a presenting of the colors, and an armed forces salute. At a 4 p.m. parade throughout uptown Jackson, the Jackson High School, Delta High School and Oak Ridge High School bands will perform.

South Elementary School in Jackson has already started events to recognize veterans. Starting on Election Day, students have heard a "Patriotic Minute" every morning highlighting facts about Veterans Day. They have also delivered cards to the Missouri Veterans Home and signed a "wall" with messages to veterans. Each day an item has been added to a white table in the cafeteria to symbolize an aspect of service; for example, salt symbolizes tears.

"We wouldn't be in school unless veterans fought for our rights. Probably everyone has a connection to a veteran somewhere," said music teacher Pat Palisch.

The weeklong commemoration will conclude with an assembly at 7:55 a.m. Tuesday.

Other area observances

Also on Tuesday, Chaffee High School will hold an assembly at 10 a.m., Delta Elementary School will serve lunch to veterans from 11 a.m. to noon, and the Oran School District will feature guest speakers and music at 9 a.m. A special lunch for veterans will be served at 11 a.m. at the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau.

Students will meet at the flagpole Tuesday morning in Leopold, Mo., to read passages honoring veterans and to sing "America the Beautiful."

On Monday, Perryville Middle School and Meadow Heights High School will hold assemblies in the afternoon, and Woodland Elementary School will hold an assembly at 12:30 p.m., during which the local VFW will present and retire colors.

A listing of communitywide events is available in a special Veterans Day insert in today's paper.

Despite two tours in Iraq with the 35th Engineering Brigade, Rogers does not consider himself a war hero. He knows he could retire from the service today, but he opts to stay in.

"It's a commitment to be gone from work, your family, your friends and networks at home. But I don't say that in a bad light. I feel like I've gotten something from the government, and I still want to continue to give back to my country," he said.

lbavolek@semissourian.com

388-3627