Dear Editor:

This is a very special “Thank you” to the staff and children at Whitesville Road Elementary School. Your Veteran’s Day celebration was awesome. Your “Parade of Heroes” brought tears to my eyes and plenty of chill bumps. I was proud of the veterans, of course, but also I was so proud of the students.

Let me share the highlights. The veterans were ushered to the gym area and each was given a huge “hero medallion” to go around their neck and each was given a sign that had their name, branch of service, rank and the years they served. It was a large turnout and a lot of visiting among the veterans. There were very young active duty veterans and old veterans and very old veterans.

They lined up the veterans and their families and the “Parade of Heroes” proceeded thru the halls of the school. The students and staff cheered, clapped, waved signs they had made and stuck their hands out to shake a veteran’s hand You would not believe how loud and sincere it was. I noticed that all the veterans seem to stand a little taller as the parade proceeded.

Thank you to the fifth graders whose program spotlighted each of the services giving their history and purpose. Thank you to the Army colonel from Pine Mountain who spoke on what patriotism means. He looked so sharp in his dress uniform. It was very touching to have the moment of silence and to sing together God Bless America. And a very big thank you to the members of Tabernacle Baptist Church for providing the delicious meal.

It was a lovely evening for all. It did my heart good to see the large turn out for the students and for the veterans.

God Bless America,

Gwen Loveless

LaGrange, Ga.