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Elementary and high school students honor veterans
MPCSD students find ways to show gratitude to Veterans for the holiday
MT. PLEASANT — Schools throughout the Mt. Pleasant Community School District honored those who served and are currently serving in the armed forces for Veterans Day with a breakfast, music, and America’s White Table.
Beginning at the Mt. Pleasant Community High School, students and staff showed their gratitude to veterans in their lives.
As the honored guests arrived at the high school early Thursday morning, they were greeted with a display of photos submitted by their loved ones and a homemade breakfast.
Each veteran was pinned with a ribbon to recognize them throughout the event then students served made to order omelets and other breakfast staples.
They further expressed their gratitude with a brief patriotic choral performance.
The younger members of the MPCSD student body joined in showing their appreciation for these special men and women the following day.
Decked out in red, white, and blue, Lincoln Elementary’s third-fifth grade chorus students traveled to Hy-Vee for a brief performance.
As veterans enjoyed a free breakfast served by Hy-Vee Friday morning, the small but sweet chorus filed in between the apples and oranges with flags in their hands to sing about the beauty of America and freedom.
According to Hy-Vee Pharmacy employee Angie Walderbach, “We all stopped what we were doing in the pharmacy to listen to the kids sing! They sounded awesome!”
In addition to singing their thanks to veterans, MPCSD elementary students learned about the POW/MIA White Table through a lesson with America’s White Table by Mike Benny and Margot Theis Raven.
In the front of a Harlan Elementary classroom sat a POW/MIA White Table complete with all the components used in the patriot lesson, Friday.
According to the Veterans of Foreign Wars website, America’s White Table explains the significance of this table through a story about a girl named Katie and her sister helping their mother set the White Table as a special gift to their uncle as their mother explains the significance of each item.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs lists the following items’ meanings as crucial parts of the White Table:
A small table with only one seat symbolizes the frailty of one prisoner alone, and the single chair reminds those that see it of soldiers unable to be here.
This lack of their presence is further represented in the inverted glass which tells how they cannot toast with their family, friends, and comrades.
“The candle is reminiscent of the light of hope that lives in our hearts to illuminate their way home, away from their captors, to the open arms of a grateful nation,” the V.A. describes on their website.
Colors are important in this table setting.
The white tablecloth shows the purity of the soldier’s intention to respond to their call for duty.
The black napkin represents the sorrow of captivity.
The red of the single rose symbolizes the blood shed by many to ensure the freedom for their whole country.
According to the V.A., “This rose also reminds us of the family and friends of our missing comrades who keep the faith, awaiting their return.”
The yellow ribbon on the vase is a smaller version of the yellow ribbons worn by those wanting more answers about missing soldiers.
The sense of taste is called on to understand the meaning behind the slice of lemon representing the bitter fate of those missing in action or prisoners of war.
“The salt sprinkled on the plate reminds us of the countless fallen tears of families as they wait,” the V.A. explains on their website.
MPCSD students also reflected on the importance of Veterans Day as they brainstormed what soldiers are, why they admire them, and why they’re grateful for them.
“I admire you because you keep our country safe,” one note on a whiteboard of a Harlan Elementary classroom read.
More notes adorned the board:
“I admire you because you served in the military.”
“Thank you for protecting our country and being helpful.”
“Thank you for helping us.”
“Soldiers are kind.”
“Soldiers are great.”
Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com
