By DON FLETCHER
News Staff Writer
Most of the more than 500 Rachel Patterson Elementary School (RPES) students who crowded into the RPES cafeteria for the school’s Veterans Day tribute last Friday, November 15, obeyed Principal Jennifer Lee’s admonishment to use “zero-voice level.” Until it was their turn to sing.
The youngsters remained mostly quiet during the portions of the program during which they didn’t sing, but virtually raised the cafeteria’s roof when they did.
Whether it was first-graders marching in step as they belted out “The Eleven-Eleven March” and “We Love Our Vets,” the second-grade students’ rendition of “Oh, I Love America,” or the singing of “A Grateful Nation” by those in Grade 3, the youngsters took advantage of the opportunity to escape the zero-voice level restriction and lift their voices.
RPES Music Teacher Phrann Fountain, with assistance from Instructional Aide Jenny Lynn Zundel, taught them the songs, and Fountain directed the musical performances on Friday.
The singing didn’t go unnoticed, as the first words by the event’s guest speaker were spoken directly to the young songsters and songstresses.
“That was awesome; you’ve really got some fantastic singers,” said Paul Entrekin, a retired naval aviator who flew helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft for the U.S. Marines, then later became an air-show pilot and eventually a pilot with Delta Airlines.
Entrekin earned several medals and citations, including the Air Medal and the Navy Cross, during his service. The Navy Cross is awarded for “extraordinary heroism” exhibited by members of the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps, as well as U.S. Coast Guard members who might be operating under the authority of the Department of the Navy, during times of armed conflict with enemies of the United States.
The students, RPES staff and about 80 parents, friends and other visitors listened as the decorated aviator talked about what it means to be a veteran.
He said only 6 percent of the nation’s current population have “stood, raised their right hand, and sworn an oath to protect and defend the U.S. Constitution.” They took the oath not knowing what their country would ask of them, he explained.
“They simply raised their hand and said, ‘Take me. I’ll go’,” he said, adding that these people’s stories have “grown to become the story of American liberty and our way of life.”
He pointed out, though, that the word “hero” is much overused and has become “inappropriately diluted” when describing America’s military men and women.
“Courage is not the absence of fear,” he said. “It lies in how we overcome that fear in the face of danger. We fought for the person to our left and to our right, and we ran, flew or sailed toward the sound of the gun. But we’re mostly not heroes. We’re patriots who saw our duty to God and our country and answered the call.”
He told the crowd that the “overwhelming majority” of veterans would go the same route if they had it to do over, despite grueling training regimens, extreme weather conditions and many other less-than-ideal aspects of the job.
“When most folks knowingly greet a veteran these days, we hear, ‘thank you for your service’,” he said. “It has become my custom to reply not just ‘thank you,’ but ‘you’re worth it.’ So, as you learn academics, remember that your hearts and minds are also being prepared to be worthy of the efforts of the veterans who have served to make you, as part of our nation, free. We love you, and you are worth it.”
He closed to thunderous applause with some of the lyrics to late country star Toby Keith’s “American Soldier.”
Other highlights of the event:
*Students Princess Neasman and Addilyn Armentor led the assemblage in the Pledge of Allegiance.
*Student Aaron Jenkins recited “A Hero’s Welcome.”
*Students Jacob Sasser, Christian Adams and Brayleigh Staples took turns reading portions of “The Veteran.”
*Student Layla Williams recited “Veterans Day,” a poem.