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Students Pay Respects, Learn Important Lesson

BUTLER TOWNSHIP — Veterans organizations throughout northeastern and central Pennsylvania are busy this time of year putting flags on the graves of vets b...
sch vets

BUTLER TOWNSHIP -- Veterans organizations throughout northeastern and central Pennsylvania are busy this time of year putting flags on the graves of vets before Memorial Day.

In Schuylkill County, the American Legion enlisted fifth and sixth graders to help with the job and to teach an important lesson.

Hundreds of fifth and sixth graders arrived at Christ Church Cemetery in Fountain Springs on a Memorial Day mission. American Legion members gave the students from North Schuylkill Elementary School bundles of flags.

The Legion members know all these kids and all their young legs can get flags on all the veteran graves much quicker than they can.

The students were going to three cemeteries in the Ashland area.

“I think it's great that the veterans are asking people to come around and put flags on all the graves because the veterans who have died need to be remembered by what they did for our country,” said Kamryn Mengel, North Schuylkill fifth grader.

This is a day out of class, but the students are still learning important lessons. They're seeing the wars and the names of those who fought them.

North Schuylkill fifth grader Hope Borrell said, “I got to see who risked their lives when they died and like how old they were when they died."

They know they're specific people and every single person has a story. It's an invaluable learning experience for our students,” explained John Walsh, North Schuylkill teacher.

The kids teamed up to pay respect to those who teamed up to protect all of us.

“America wouldn't be the same if they didn't fight in all these wars, World War I, World War II, Vietnam, Afghanistan,” said Timmy Herring, North Schuylkill fifth grader.

And with Memorial Day approaching, the most important lesson is making sure the children knew some of those who served and made the ultimate sacrifice for them.

Borrell added, “I  think it makes me sad because many, many people died, but then it makes me feel like wow, I know these people really cared about us to do this for us."

In return, the students are caring for them.

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