Three of the five veterans from the Vale, Ore., church attended classes at Timberline Adventist Elementary School on Nov. 11 for a Veteran's Day program.
Nadine Messer, head teacher, welcomed veterans David Moody, Thomas Hopper and Wayne Ervine, along with other guests. The group recited the Pledge of Allegiance, and then each veteran shared information about his military service and experiences.
Students conducted short interviews of the veterans and asked for their autographs. Messer presented the men with certificates of appreciation for their service and thank-you cards made by the children. The veterans posed for photos with the students, followed by visiting and refreshments.
Of the three men, Moody served as an Army medic during the 60s, just prior to the Vietnam War. He worked in the field of bacteriology at Fort Sam Houston in Texas and at Fort Detrick, Md. Hopper served as a glider pilot during World War II in North Africa, Sicily and Italy, from 1942 to 1944. Ervine, a paratrooper and rifleman during World War II, served in Sicily, Italy, France, Belgium and Germany from 1943 to 1945.
Messer organized the program utilizing Take a Veteran to School Day materials found on Veterans.com. "I'd like to repeat this program in future years," she says. "The veterans enjoyed sharing their experiences, and it's a valuable learning activity for the students to discover history from those who have experienced it firsthand."
Front row from left: Veterans David Moody, Thomas Hopper and Wayne Ervine visit Timberline Elementary on Veteran's Day. Middle row from left: Cody Davis, Jade Cano, Jeremy Jones, Katrina DeLaRosa, Micha Hernandez and Dinah Thomas. Back row from left: Head teacher Nadine Messer, Fritz Heid and Hannah Martinez.
