By By MaryClaire Foster
Monday Perdido schools joined millions of people around the nation who are celebrating and honoring veterans this week.
Karen Dyess, assistant principal at Perdido, said the school hosts programs like this both to show their appreciation for military service and to teach children about veterans and their sacrifices.
Ron Weinmann served in the Navy and said events like the ones at Perdido are important in educating children about the military’s sacrifices.
Don Roley, who served in the Army, agreed that programs like this are necessary for children.
Atmore Mayor Howard Shell was in attendance at the program and said he appreciated the students’ essays and their “outstanding” show of patriotism.
Hurley DeLaFosse served in the Army and said those sacrifices made the present possible.
Gerri McDonald is the Project Jubilee and Humanities teacher at Perdido and helped organize the program, which began in 2004 and had its biggest participation this year.
Escambia Academy held an assembly in recognition of Veterans Day and hosted Maj.Bobby Davis, who served in the Army, as their guest speaker Monday.
Davis expressed that he too believes in the importance in educating children about the sacrifices made by the military.
Cpl. John Michael Daw recently ended his tour of duty for the Marine Corps and said Veterans Day is important to him because of the appreciation it shows.
What is now called Veterans Day began on Nov.11, 1918 on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month when an armistice was called between the Germans and the Allies ending World War I. The day was originally called Armistice Day because it was seen as “the war to end all wars” and honored veterans serving in that war. It became a legal holiday in 1938.
Following subsequent military conflicts, citizens wanted to change the day to honor all veterans. In 1954 Congress passed a bill and President Eisenhower signed it into law.
The name was officially amended later that year by Congress and changed to Veterans Day.