Red, White & Blue Extravaganza at Washington School

It was a red, white and blue extravaganza at Washington Primary School as the building’s annual Veteran’s Day celebration drew an audience of students, teachers, veterans, family members and friends.

Washington has celebrated the day in the school’s own special way for many years and the event never gets old or tiring. “The students recited poems and sang patriotic songs for all to enjoy,” Principal Dr. Michelle J. Richards said. “Special thanks and appreciation to all of our veterans for their bravery and sacrifice. Thank you to Washington’s music director Julie Cooke and faculty and staff for making this year even more special.”

After joining together to sing The Star Spangled Banner, Washington third graders presented each of the veterans with an American flag.

The roots of Veterans Day in America can be traced to Armistice Day, which commemorated the end of World War I and which at the time was referred to as “the war to end all wars.” The Allies and Germany entered into an armistice on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month or November 11, 1918.

Following World War II and the Korean War, veterans service organized encouraged Congress to change the word “armistice” to “veterans” so the special day would honor every American veteran of every war.

Washington School students made the veterans in the audience feel especially appreciated. The group left the building with an extra spring in their respective step.

The day’s events included presentations by each grade level at Washington, including:

Kindergarten Presentation

Poem: I Have a Little Poppy

Song: God Bless America

First Grade Presentation

Poem: Poppy, Poppy

Song: America the Beautiful

Grade Two Presentation

Poem: See the Veteran

Song: This Land is Your Land

Grade Three Presentation

Poem: Not Enough

Song: The Star-Spangled Banner