Veteran’s Day

On Friday, Corbin and the rest of Cooper Fourth Grade    Presented a special Veteran’s Day musical program. They sang patriotic songs, and the songs for each of the branches of the United States Armed Forces. They asked audience members who are active or non active service people to stand, and the kids sang a song to honor and thank them. It was wonderful. I love America and a bunch of kids enthusiastically giving a patriotic concert just gives me all the feel goods. Also, Mr L, the music teacher (Tobias Funke’s doppelgänger btw) is the best. The kids love him. Well done, Corbin bc Cooper 4th Grade! 

On a Saturday morning, we bundled up and went to the Bentonville Cemetary to volunteer placing flags out on graves of veterans.  This was a special experience! We were assigned 88 local heroes buried in the oldest part of cemetery, section 1, and part of section 3.  It was like a scavenger hunt. Many of the headstones had been there since the 1800’s, and were very difficult to read. Every time one of us found the last name we were searching for, all the kids would run over and narrow down which specific headstone it was by date of birth or death and I would tell them about their military service (rank etc) as they placed the flag.  

The ground was frozen and we hadn’t known what to expect, never having done this before. I keep a small screwdriver in my van, so that helped, but we moved much faster once someone let us use their large screwdriver. Next time, we will come prepared with several.  There are also some apps that the American legion guys had on their phones for helping locate a few super tricky 100+ year old headstones. 

It was 24 degrees outside, and in the shady spots, the air just seemed to bite at our faces. Once the triplets had had it, Aaron took them to the van to warm up while the big kids stuck it out. It was a good little metaphorical lesson about sacrifice. 

Quincy was particularly intrigued when we placed a flag for a Shirley. “What? Wait, there’s a mistake on this one. Shirley. That’s a girl.” She has no idea that women have been serving our country in the armed forces! I pointed out a few women she knows who are veterans and the fact that she was blown away by this made me realize my Mother-Teaching lesson about Veteran appreciation had some educational gaps in it.  You know, like...who veterans actually ARE.  Oops! #momfail  

 We will definitely volunteer to do flags again.  I love cemeteries and wanted to know everything about everyone buried there.  I’m thankful to each of the veterans we hunted down in sections 1-3 today.  

Thank you, Veterans! We honor you!