Many of the veterans wore caps or jackets identifying their service time; some brought scrapbooks to share with students. Students met at long tables in the gym with approximately 40 veterans who served in the Korean and Vietnam conflicts as well as in the Gulf War and Afghanistan.
The last time Liberty hosted veterans in person was 2019. The 2020 event was canceled because of Covid. In the last two years, veterans drove through Liberty’s front parking lot where students greeted the veterans, handed them gift bags, and thanked them for their service.
“It was so wonderful to be able to honor our veterans in person once again,” said social studies teacher Amanda Brummer.
The appreciation day started years ago with a handful of veterans coming to social studies teacher Rob Sausedo’s classroom. “It’s been a great honor to have helped develop this program,” Mr. Sausedo said in his closing remarks, commenting on the students’ close attention to the veterans’ stories.
Mrs. Brummer said one of the veterans was a prisoner of war during the Vietnam conflict. “History teachers can define and explain historical events, such as wars and other armed conflicts from the past to our students,” she said. “But these events become even more meaningful when our students are able to hear from our brave service men and women themselves what it was actually like on the front lines.”
At the end of the program, students shook hands with the veterans and thanked them for coming. There were pictures taken and veterans promised to come back again next year.