On November 8th, BIC held an assembly at the elementary campus to commemorate Veteran’s Day and the many veterans in our community. While the program has taken place at the high school for several years, this is the first time it was held at the elementary.

The ceremony began with the Presentation of Colors, followed by the playing of the national anthem.

A slide show presentation was then shown and read aloud by the students, explaining what a veteran is, and what Veteran’s Day is celebrating.

Earlier this month the elementary students participated in a “What does freedom mean to me?” writing contest, and wrote paragraphs explaining what freedom means to them.  The 1st and 2nd place winners and runner-ups of the contest got to stand up and read their essays during the assembly.

An “Interview with a Veteran,” video was then played.  This year’s interview was with Brandon Decker, a former sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps.  Mr. Decker talked about how he joined the military right out of high school when he was only 17 years old, and was sent to specialized training in San Diego, California.  He then went on to serve in Spain, Turkey, Greece, Italy, and Kuwait, on two different ships during his two deployments.

While he was never on the front lines, Mr. Decker had many important duties, including ensuring that the jets were operational during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He recalls especially enjoying night flight operations.

“Joining the military definitely improved my life. It taught me discipline, how to work as a member of a team, and to depend on that team. I learned how to push myself beyond what I thought was ever possible,” said Decker.

The ceremony concluded with the 5th grade class singing “God Bless the USA,” and the Retirement of the Colors.

The Veteran’s Day program is a beloved tradition here at BIC, and we look forward to continuing it long

into the future.