MADISON TOWNSHIP — Madison South Elementary students recognized military veterans as heroes during a school assembly, Monday morning.
The event, a first for Madison South, was created by a committee involved with the Leader In Me project the district has implemented, principal Melissa Warner said.
“We were blown away with how many families were represented by service members,” Warner said. “When we sent home the flyer about today, we had over 60 service persons say they were coming.
“We had 325 years of service represented by the veterans today.”
The hour-long event included students singing songs like, “God Bless The USA” and original poems.
“Today’s event was semi-emotional,” said William Cramer, who served in the Marines. “I can get emotional hearing the songs, seeing the guys, seeing my granddaughter, Addison (a kindergartener).”
Cramer said he appreciated the assembly because it taught the students about veterans.
“I think it’s very important they are learning us at this age,” Cramer said. “Accepting and knowing all the knowledge that goes through the branches — maybe guiding the little guys to join a branch in service.”
William Patterson, who served in Vietnam from 1969 to 1970, thought the event was wonderful.
“For the children to be aware of what we went through and what we do for this country is beautiful,” he said with his arm around his first-grade granddaughter, Bailey.
