Schools across Alpine School District held Veterans Day assemblies, breakfasts and art projects on Wednesday, Nov. 11, with deployed Superintendent Rob Smith joining one school virtually from a military base in Italy.
Smith, a retired Army officer serving as a U.S. Army Reservist, is stationed in Vicenza, Italy, supporting the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa, according to the district. He and his deployed team members presented virtually to students at Fox Hollow Elementary. The presentation capped a weeks-long project involving the school mascot, RIDER, who arrived at the school on what the district described as a secret mission to help students understand their school values.
Smith also keynoted an assembly at Westfield Elementary, where he spoke about unity and helped students symbolically stitch together a flag by linking arms.
"We are all stitched together as Americans," Smith said, according to the district. "As we stay connected and respectful we can withstand the winds of any adversity that comes our way."
At Hidden Hollow Elementary, every student created a piece of art that was combined into a large mosaic flag and hung during the school's assembly. Assistant Principal Jessie Cannon said the kids were having a blast finding their artwork in the flag.
Vineyard Elementary students learned patriotic songs by grade level and performed them for veteran guests, who then visited classrooms and shared what school was like when they attended. Principal Lori Belliti said she hopes the assembly becomes a tradition.
Other events included a veteran breakfast at Forbes Elementary, a lunch with choir performances at Lake Mountain Middle and a "Hero Wall of Fame" at Harvest Elementary, where veterans spent time with students at recess. Skyridge High School hosted a dinner gala for community veterans at 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 11.
Smith, who participated in a Veterans Day ceremony at the Florence American Cemetery and Memorial in Italy, called the event a lifetime highlight. The cemetery is the final resting place for more than four thousand American service members from the Allied campaign in Europe.
