Earlier this fall, children from Dublin Consolidated School wrote letters to local veterans, inviting them to a special assembly and ceremony at the school in honor of Veterans’ Day.
“We weren’t sure what kind of a turnout we would get; we just put it out there, and we told the children, even if just two veterans are able to come, we will honor them for their service,” said Heather Fletcher, second-grade teacher at Dublin Consolidated School.”It is all about teaching the children about what veterans have done for our country.”
On Thursday, Nov. 6, many students were able to meet their veteran pen pals during a school-wide assembly. Close to 20 veterans attended the event, many in uniform, and enjoyed refreshments in the school’s multipurpose room afterward.
“We are here today to honor our veterans for many reasons,” said DCS Principal Nicole Pease. “Many of us have family members who have served, and we have worked really hard to instill this passion and appreciation for our veterans, both in our own personal families, and in our school families as well.”
Pease acknowledged Russell Wells, the school custodian, who is a Navy veteran, and thanked him for his service.
Throughout the week leading up to the ceremony, the school held a coin drive to raise money for the Wounded Warrior Project.
“Our students have been bringing coins in all week — they have been doing extra chores at home, they have been trading candy to get some money, and amazingly, we have raised $870 in coins in just four days, which we will be donating to the Wounded Warriors Project,” Pease said.
Heather Fletcher, a multigrade first and second-grade teacher, said the students competed to see who could bring the most coins and used a balance scale to track the weight of the coins.
“My students were really excited to be able to donate to the Wounded Warriors project, and they are aware that there are people right here in our community who have benefited from that program,” Fletcher said.
Fletcher said her students came up with many creative ideas to raise money.
“I have had a few students who made artwork they could sell,” she said. “Some of the students made a big sign saying ‘Give $1 or 50 cents, we are raising money for vets,’ and they had a lemonade stand, and they sat out in front of their grandparents’ house in Jaffrey and collected money for the coin drive.”
The assembly marked the first time DCS has hosted a Veterans’ Day event. Pease, who formerly worked at Southmeadow School, said she used to help organize the annual veteran’s breakfast at the middle school.
“We thought, why not invite local veterans here? It’s important for the children to be able to understand what they did and appreciate them,” Pease said.
Students performed readings, led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance, and sang songs in honor of “all veterans.”
According to information provided by the school, students performed in front of a flag that is a replica of the original “Star-Spangled Banner,” sewn by Mary Pickersgill and a team of six women after Major George Armistead requested a flag “so large that the British would have no trouble seeing it from a distance.”
The flag, which was 42 feet by 30 feet, was raised over Fort McHenry in 1813 and later inspired Francis Scott Key to write “The Star-Spangled Banner,” which became the national anthem in 1931.
The ceremony ended with the entire school singing “You’re a Grand Old Flag.” Following the ceremony, students greeted veterans and thanked them for their service.