VETERANS DAY 2023
Mattie Wells Elementary School hosted their first Veteran’s Day program Friday, Nov. 10, welcoming all veterans from the community to the school to be honored and thanked for their service by the faculty and students.
Ashley White, technology teacher at Wells Elementary School, said she was excited to see the number of veterans who showed up for the assembly. She said the program went well, and the veterans and students enjoyed their time listening to the program.
“We had our Veteran’s Day program here at Mattie Wells Elementary to honor the veterans in our community, and one of our teachers, Mrs. Bell, is a veteran. She was our guest speaker,” she said. “We also provided lunch for our veterans, and the Sunday school group at Gray Community Church helped us with that. The Armed Forces songs were played, so the veterans stood when their song was played.”
She said Veteran’s Day was important for Mattie Wells Elementary School to celebrate, because she wanted the students to know there are people in the community standing up for their freedoms. She said she wanted the students to be able to thank the veterans and recognize who they are.
“It gave our students some kind of perspective of what these veterans have done. It’s a hard concept for a child, especially when so many of them have never left this community before. Having them here to hear what veterans have experienced definitely helps them understand better,” White said.
Kitara Gomez, a fifth-grade student at the school, said she felt the Veteran’s Day program at Mattie Wells Elementary School was a great way to honor all of the veterans. She said Veteran’s Day is important, because it lets the veterans know everyone in the school cares about them.
“My favorite thing about the day was welcoming all the veterans to the school with open arms,” the student said. “I learned that World War 1 ended on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. That was very cool information to hear. I want to say I love all the veterans.”
The technology teacher said her favorite thing about the Veteran’s Day program at the school was hearing Mary Bell’s experience, and she also enjoyed being able to honor all the veterans who walked through the school that day. She said she was happy to see the students get a glimpse of the freedom the veteran’s fought for.
“This is the first time we’ve had this program here at Mattie Wells and have been able to share this time with our veterans, but they seemed to really enjoy it,” the teacher said. “It was a great learning opportunity for our students and a great way for them to thank the veterans in our community.”
