CELEBRATING LOCAL HEROES
Clifton Ridge Middle School held their Veterans Day Ceremony Nov. 10, welcoming veterans, who were recognized and thanked for all their sacrifices for the U.S., into the school.
Dennis Woolfolk, principal of Clifton Ridge Middle School, said he was glad he was able to shake the hands of so many veterans who came out to the ceremony.
“This Veterans Day ceremony was a combination of faculty, staff and students coming together to show honor to family members who are veterans serving in our armed forces,” he said. “It was special since I had the honor to be a part of this ceremony as the principal of Clifton Ridge for the first time. We’re fortunate we could welcome people in the community back into the school.”
He said it was a special time to welcome parents and several veterans back into the school now that COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted. He said Clifton Ridge Middle School and Mattie Wells Elementary are farther from the other schools in Jones County, and it was important to show the community the school has a lot of love and support to offer.
The Clifton Ridge Middle School chorus sang for the veterans, seventh and eighth grade band students played a song, students read their essays, and a video presentation was compiled for the ceremony of the veterans.
Zoey Clanton, a seventh-grade student, said her favorite thing about the Veterans Day Ceremony at Clifton Ridge Middle School was seeing so many people come out and support the local veterans for what they have done for the country. She said the band also did a great job playing music to honor the veterans.
“It’s important to recognize and honor our veterans, because we want to show them that we understand what they went through even though we haven’t served. I wrote an essay I read out loud, which was dedicated to my uncle and great grandfather who both served in the military. I wanted to share my gratitude,” she said.
Malissa Moughon, a veteran and the reading connections teacher at CRMS, said she served in the army. She deployed to Iraq in 2007. She said she and her husband were in the same brigade. Moughon said once she completed her service obligation, she wanted to have a civilian career, and she went to school to become a teacher.
The teacher said it’s her second year at Clifton Ridge Middle School. She said she and her husband are both originally from Jones County, so they are glad to be back.
“It was great to see all the veterans who showed up for the ceremony. Veterans Day is important. We should think about the sacrifices that veterans have made for the country,” Moughon said. “It’s great to recognize those around us. I served myself, and it’s an experience I wouldn’t trade for anything.”
Emory Sanford, who is also in the seventh grade, said Veterans Day is important, because it’s a chance for veterans to feel recognized and realize their sacrifices are important to people. She said she was glad to see all the veterans who came to the school.
“I wrote an essay to honor all the veterans who served. I wrote it to express my gratitude to the veterans. Without these veterans none of us might not be here today, so they should be shown people care,” the student said.
Woolfolk said the veterans enjoyed the ceremony, and he thanked them for their service before they left. He said he really appreciated them and was happy the school could honor them. He said his favorite thing about that day was the essays the students wrote, because each one was unique and touching in its own way.
“I know all the kids in the building, but I had no idea some of their moms and dads served. To see the grandfathers and great grandfathers of some of these students who served is something to be proud of,” the principal said. “I’m sure we’ll also have some future veterans here who are attending Clifton Ridge now. This ceremony was just one small way to honor our veterans.”
