Veterans Day: Thank You for Your Service
Students across Ozark School District celebrated Veterans Day Nov. 11 by honoring veterans in various ways throughout the week. See dozens more photos on the building's social media pages!
South Veterans Day Parade
More than 70 veterans representing all branches of service participated in South Elementary’s 2nd Annual Veterans Day Parade Nov. 10. South students invited family members who are veterans or are actively serving in the military. Veterans were treated to breakfast, before being the highlight of a touching and emotional Veterans Day Parade through the hallways where students waved flags, gave high-fives and passed out thank you cards. The event culminated with an assembly where OHS JROTC presented the colors and fourth graders sang the National Anthem. Army National Guard Chief of Staff Brad Leonard was the guest speaker for the assembly.
“This is such a special time to spend with these special people,” he said after asking students to raise their hands if they had a family member present who is a veteran. “I can’t tell veterans thanks enough.”
OHS Veterans Day Assembly
On Nov. 9, OHS honored veterans with an assembly organized by senior Mikayla White as a part of her IB Global Politics class. The assembly included performances from the JROTC Color Guard, Mountainettes Drill Team and Mountain Guard Drill team, as well as a special presentation from Honor Flight Director and Flight Coordinator David Snider. Thank you to all the veterans who came to be honored at the assembly. We appreciate your sacrifice and celebrate you everyday.
East Elementary Veterans Lunch
More than 150 veterans stopped by East Elementary Nov. 10 for a Veterans Day Lunch. Students who have a family member who is a veteran or active military were invited to come eat lunch, which was provided by the PTA. Each grade level compiled some sort of artwork, poem or letter for the veterans. Upon arrival, every veteran received a letter from a third grade student thanking the veteran for their service and asking them questions.
Senior Center Veterans Lunch
The Ozark Junior High Grace Notes Choir performed patriotic songs at the Ozark Senior Center Nov. 10 for their Veterans Day Lunch. The Ozark High School JROTC also presented the colors. Thank you, Ozark Senior Center, for inviting our students to be a part of your Veterans Day Lunch honoring our veterans!
Celebrating Veterans at OMS
OMS celebrated veterans in many throughout the week of Nov. 7-10.
- Fifth grade ELA teachers created a Wall of Veterans.
- Fifth grade students in Mrs. Clark's Social Studies elective learned about all six branches of the military and also wrote letters to local veterans in area hospitals both thanking them and wishing them well.
- School Spirit Day: Wear Red, White, and Blue
- Army veteran Jared Robbins led the school in the Pledge of Allegiance
- Greg Sitzes visited sixth grade ELA Mrs. Sitzes class for Veteran’s Day. He spoke about the history of Veteran’s Day, the branches of our military, his experiences in the Marine Corps, and the time he spent time in Iraq and Ukraine.
Letters of Appreciation
North Elementary third graders in Mrs. Idell’s class wrote letters of appreciation to veterans. We are so thankful for the sacrifices they make to keep us safe and protect our freedoms in America!
White Table
On Nov. 3, South Elementary fourth graders learned how to set a White Table in honor and remembrance to service members held prisoner of war or missing in action. Each part of the table represents something a soldier and their family may have felt or gone through. Following the presentation of the White Table, James Price with the Ozark VFW answered student questions about the table, the military and veterans.