Veterans Day was a very important day at Providence Elementary School. The day started with Lt. Col. Carl Lude, as he spoke about the holiday, on the WPES Morning News Show. Lude is an Air Force pilot currently working on the Joint Staff at the Pentagon. He served in the Middle East for one year during 9/11 and the war in Afghanistan. This native Californian has served in the military for a total of 18 years.
Later in the day, Marie Lankford's kindergarten class members honored this day by making medals in the shape of stars, so they could send them to our troops in Iraq. Kindergartner Jordan Radoll said that it makes him feel very good to send the medals to the soldiers. Lankford is one of the many veterans at our school, having served in the U.S. Navy Reserve for several years. She invited two members of the Providence community who are currently in the Navy to visit her class. Nicky Linn just graduated from college and has been in the Navy for only a few months. She is about to be promoted to intelligence officer. Ben Jacoby has been serving for almost four years. He was in combat in Italy for six months and was also in Bahrain for four months. They talked with the students and helped them make the medals for the American soldiers.
Lankford is not the only veteran working at Providence. Ann Mazur, a sixth-grade teacher, has been in the Army Reserve for 10 years. She did her training in Korea and Germany, and she served in the Middle East just last year. When asked how she feels about it, she said, "I am proud to serve my country. I think everyone should do something for their country." Hicks Cabading, the cafeteria manager, served in the Navy for 21 years before coming to Providence.
Veterans Day is a day to honor all Americans who have served their country in some way. Providence Elementary School wants to thank all of those brave men and women.