Published: November 10, 2009 11:49 pm      

New 'Old Glory'

Rahall visits local schools in honor of Veterans Day

Over Labor Day weekend, students at Lester Elementary School noticed their school flag was missing.

’We were getting ready for our remembrance ceremony for 9/11 when the students noticed there was no flag. Someone had stolen it,’ principal Drexel Sammons said.

Lester’s fourth-graders decided to write personalized letters to Rep. Nick Rahall, D-W.Va., requesting a new flag for their school.

On Tuesday, Rahall answered the fourth-graders’ requests. In person.

Rahall presented the school with a new flag, which was flown over the U.S. Capitol on Oct. 13, during a school assembly.

Prior to the flag presentation, Rahall called for a moment of silence in honor of the Fort Hood victims.

’I think it’s very appropriate that Lester Elementary School has its Veterans Appreciation Ceremony,’ Rahall said.

’I think it’s important, regardless of how young we are, to instill in our young people the love we have for our veterans, and the respect and appreciation we have for what they have fought for and given this great country of ours, freedoms that we often take for granted,’ he commented.

Several U.S. Army, Marine, Air Force and National Guard veterans were present at the assembly.

The kindergartners presented each veteran with a miniature flag.

’We are so proud to honor these veterans today,’ Sammons said.

Sammons said he felt the flag recognition ceremony presented a good opportunity to honor local veterans.

’To those that have served, those that are retired military, those that are serving as we speak in Iraq, Afghanistan and other dangerous places around the world ... we say thank you. These are our true American heroes,’ Rahall told the group.

Prior to visiting Lester Elementary, Rahall stopped by Maxwell Hill Elementary School for a similar ceremony in honor of Veterans Day.

’I just commend Lester and Maxwell Hill ... all of our schools for the tremendous job they do of instilling in our young people just what freedom means, and that freedom is not free. It’s every day of the year we should say thank you to our veterans, not just on Veterans Day.’

’ E-mail: jayres@register-herald.com