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Were you Spotted?: See photos from Veterans Day activities.
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The pupils and staff of Evans Middle School honored U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Justin DeCrow with a moment of silence this morning during a Veterans Day celebration.
An Evans resident, Staff Sgt. DeCrow was killed, along with 12 others, during the Thursday shooting spree at Fort Hood, Texas, where he was preparing for a year-long deployment to Iraq.
Staff Sgt. DeCrow’s 13-year-old daughter, Kylah, is a pupil at Evans Middle.
“With this moment of silence, let’s keep (the DeCrow) family in our thoughts,” Principal Michael Johnson told hundreds of students, school faculty and visitors packed into the Evans Middle gym.
Staff Sgt. DeCrow’s commanding officer, Brig. Gen. Jennifer Napper, also remembered him as a good soldier who loved his country and his family.
And while honoring those who have fallen, Brig. Gen. Napper urged pupils to esteem other veterans in their neighborhoods and school.
“Tell (them), whether they are young soldiers or older veterans of past wars, that you appreciate their service and the sacrifices they have made, and that you’re proud of them,” she said.
Other segments of the celebration included readings from pupils about significant moments and monuments in America’s military past, a performance of patriotic music by the school’s band, and a slide show of veteran family members of pupils and Evans Middle staff set to a performance of “Let There Be Peace” by the school chorus.
The slide show of more than 90 veterans was led off with a photo of Staff Sgt. DeCrow with his wife, Marikay, that was provided by Kylah.
Mrs. DeCrow and Kylah did not attend the Evans Middle event this morning as they were in Texas, where they attended a Tuesday memorial service at Fort Hood, said Army spokeswoman Marla Jones.
The family left today for Staff Sgt. DeCrow’s hometown of Plymouth, Ind., where funeral services will be held Saturday, Ms. Jones said.
Mr. Johnson said he spoke with Mrs. DeCrow this afternoon and expressed his sympathies and offered to help any way he can.
Already the school has sent flowers to Staff Sgt. DeCrow’s funeral home in Indiana.
Kylah’s classmates also have sent cards and messages to her and her mother, and the school is taking up a collection to help the family with expenses.
Thus far, the school has raised more than $400 with the hopes of raising another $600 before Friday.
“She is a model student an all-around good kid,” Mr. Johnson said of Kylah. “We just want to do whatever we can to help her during a tough time.”
Those wishing to donate to the DeCrow family should drop off payments or checks, made out to Evans Middle, to the front office of the school at 4785 Hereford Farm Road.
Veterans were remembered today in other ceremonies in the Augusta area.
At the Georgia War Veterans Nursing Home in Augusta, Edward Williams said it’s hard to put into words the importance of Veterans Day.
“It’s just good to know that you have people that still care about you,” said Mr. Williams, a veteran of Korean and Vietnam wars and former prisoner of war, who gathered with former and current military personnel this morning at the nursing home to mark the occasion.
During the short ceremony, speakers paid tribute to the veterans who have helped defend America throughout its history.
“Our nation owes a great debt to its veterans, whose service spans every decade since our nation was founded,” said Col. Laurence Mixon, featured speaker and commander of the 513th Military Intelligence Brigade from the U.S. Army Signal Center and Fort Gordon.
U.S. Rep. Paul Broun and Augusta Mayor Deke Copenhaver also gave brief remarks.
The Augusta Chronicle ©2010 Morris Communications, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Wouldn't being out of school to honor ALL veterans have been a better way? Why were schools in session today? In this day of questioned patriotism and the lack thereof a school board should be ashamed of having this day as a class day. There are numerous other days during the school year on which there are no classes so why not use one of those days to allow a holiday to honor our veterans. If it were not for veterans there probably wouldn't even be the opportunity to attend school. Voters should remember when it comes time to choose a new school board who voted for this day to be a class day. Teaching patriotism and what this day is really all about should be a part of the curriculum. While it was nice to honor the victim of the Ft Hood massacre, it would have been far better to honor ALL veterans on this day. I can't imagine that parents in this area which is heavily populated by military families weren't up in arms about having classes today. Do you think things would be so quiet if it was determined that Martin Luther King day would no longer be observed as a holiday? You'd probably NEED some veterans to quell the riots.
"..Other segments of the celebration included readings from pupils about significant moments and monuments in America’s military past, a performance of patriotic music by the school’s band, and a slide show of veteran family members of pupils and Evans Middle staff set to a performance of “Let There Be Peace” by the school chorus..."
I'm certain that they made a point to celebrate ALL veterans, however today it was easy for them to put it to something a little more tangible for the students as it was a recent loss by one of their own..