Meadow Valley School says “Thanks”…The Veteran’s Day Assembly Thank you to everyone who participated in the Meadows Valley School Veteran’s Day Assembly.  It was an extremely moving ceremony and also very educational.  A special thank you to:  Becky Dwello, MV Class of 2010, MV High School Band and Director Jeff Parnett, guest speaker Senior Master Sergeant of the U.S. Air Force Steve Richerson, soloist Nate “Bubba” LaGrone, and special presentation by Mike Howard of a U.S. flag and plaque that reads,    “This flag was flown with honor aboard an A-10 Warthog, Tail Number 78-0627 piloted by Lt Col Todd “Hitch” Hitchcock, on Mission #A3651, over the skies of Afghanistan. It is presented to Meadows Valley Schools.   This flag was flown on behalf of the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing, US Air Force, and the United States of America by the 190th Air Expeditionary Fighter Squadron on 4 July 2008. Let it be known that this flag represents American resolve following the attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on September 11,, 2001, and bears witness to the destruction of terrorist forces threatening the United States of America and the world.”   Signed by Lt Col Todd “Hitch” Hitchcock Pilot, 190th Fighter Squadron   A special thank you for his service, to Lt Col Todd “Hitch” Hitchcock, and thank you to all veterans, on behalf of Meadows Valley Schools.

The History of Veterans Day Veterans Day is the American holiday celebrated each year on November the 11th. This is a time when people who have served in the military during war-time are honored. It is both a federal and a state holiday. The holiday is celebrated on the same day as Armistice Day or Remembrance Day in other countries. These holidays are also on November 11th. This is the day seen as the end of World War I. The First World War ended on November 11th, 1918. Veteran's Day was first created as Armistice Day in 1919 by President Woodrow Wilson. Thirty states made it a state holiday that year. It was made a holiday for the entire country in 1938. On June 1, 1954, the name was changed to Veterans Day.          Mike Howard presented a flag to Meadows Valley School. The flag was flown over Afghanistan and also represented his son, Matt Howard, who served with the United States Army in Iraq.           Symbols for the Folds of the Flag The 1st fold of our flag is a symbol of life. The 2nd fold is a symbol of our belief in eternal life. The 3rd fold is made in honor and remembrance of the veteran departing our ranks, and who gave a portion of his or her life for the defense of our country to attain peace throughout the world. The 4th fold represents our weaker nature; as American citizens trusting in God, it is to Him we turn in times of peace, as well as in times of war, for His divine guidance. The 5th fold is a tribute to our country, for in the words of Stephen Decatur, "Our country, in dealing with other countries, may she always be right, but it is still our country, right or wrong." The 6th fold is for where our hearts lie. It is with our heart that we pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. The 7th fold is a tribute to our armed forces, for it is through the armed forces that we protect our country and our flag against all enemies, whether they be found within or without the boundaries of our republic. The 8th fold is a tribute to the one who entered into the valley of the shadow of death, that we might see the light of day, and to honor our mother, for whom it flies on Mother's Day. The 9th fold is a tribute to womanhood, for it has been through their faith, love, loyalty and devotion that the character of the men and women who have made this country great have been molded. The 10th fold is a tribute to father, for he, too, has given his sons and daughters for the defense of our country since he or she was first born. The 11th fold, in the eyes of Hebrew citizens, represents the lower portion of the seal of King David and King Solomon and glorifies, in their eyes, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The 12th fold, in the eyes of a Christian citizen, represents an emblem of eternity and glorifies, in their eyes, God the Father, the Son and Holy Ghost. When the flag is completely folded, the stars are uppermost, reminding us of our national motto, "In God We Trust." After the flag is completely folded and tucked in, it has the appearance of a cocked hat, ever reminding us of the soldiers who served under Gen. George Washington and the sailors and Marines who served under Capt. John Paul Jones and were followed by their comrades and shipmates in the U.S. Armed Forces, preserving for us the rights, privileges and freedoms we enjoy today. (VA Clarifies Policy on Flag-Folding Recitations "13-Fold" Ceremony, Other Scripts Approved)

Remembering Leroy Matthews...

Our Own Meadows Valley Veterans                   Richard Yoakum served for the US Army in Vietnam.   Lynette LaGrone represented her father, Dave Hardin (US Army - 1950's)   Johnny (Smitty) Smith served for the US Army in Vietnam as part of the 506th, 101st Airmobile.   Frank Mather served as a US Marine in Vietnam.   Len Yancey served in the US Air Force.   Wallace Steiner served for the US Army during WWII.   Brad Steiner served for the US Marine Corps.   Ron Branstetter served for the US Army in Vietnam.   Tom Fields served for the US Army in Korea.   Chris Kerby Koeberlein served in the Womans Army Corps (WAC).

You Can't Tell a Vet Just By Looking He is the cop on the beat who spent six months in Saudi Arabia sweating two gallons a day making sure the armored personnel carrier didn't run out of fuel. He is the barroom loudmouth whose behavior is outweighed in the cosmic scales by four hours of unparalleled bravery near the 38th Parallel in Korea. She is the nurse who fought against futility in Da Nang and went to sleep sobbing every night for two solid years. He is the POW who left one person and came back another. He is the drill instructor who has never been in combat, but has saved countless lives by turning no-accounts into Marines. He is the parade-riding legionnaire who pins on his ribbons and medals with a prosthetic hand. He is the white-haired guy bagging groceries at the supermarket, aggravatingly slow, who helped liberate a Nazi death camp. A vet is an ordinary and extraordinary human being — someone who offered his life's vital years in the service of his country. He is a soldier and a savior and a sword against the darkness, and nothing more than the finest, greatest testimony on behalf of the finest, greatest nation ever known.   We will never be able to repay the debt of gratitude we owe.

         

Meadows Valley Veterans Day Inspirational Guest Speaker                         Steve Richerson is retired United States Air Force.  His wife, Debra Richerson is also retired Air Force.                   THOUGHTS ON VETERANS DAY By General Douglas MacArthur It is the SOLDIER, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press. It is the SOLDIER, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech. It is the SOLDIER, not the campus organizers, who has given us the freedom to demonstrate. It is the SOLDIER, who salutes the flag, who serves the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, Wh Who allows the protester to burn the flag.  AMEN.                      Ashley E., Meadows Valley Student Body President Nate LaGrone sang America the Beautiful.           Nate LaGrone was there to represent his brother, Steve LaGrone (Air Force - Vietnam) and his father, Paul LaGrone (US Army - WWII).                       Meadow Valley School Remembering & Honoring it's Veterans

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