Each year, veterans stream into the school buildings in the Historic Triangle to tell children about the experience of serving their country.
On Friday, I had the opportunity to join two classes of Walsingham Academy third-graders as they spoke with Maj. Gen. Joseph Brown, an alum of the school who came to tell the students about the importance of honoring service and sacrifice.
What struck me about his visit was that here in the Historic Triangle, it isn’t hard for children to understand the concepts of service and sacrifice because more than most places in the country, they’ve lived it. Many families in Hampton Roads have ties to the military, and many children have the direct experience of Skyping with mom on holidays or sending Dad copies of their report cards during his deployment.
Brown asked the students at Walsingham to raise their hands if they have a relative who has served in the military and every single hand shot up.
After going around the room, it was established that some were thinking of ancestors who fought in the Civil War, but many said their parents or grandparents have served the United States. It’s humbling to imagine so many children in this region have an intimate knowledge of such a tradition.
When he arrived at Walsingham in sixth grade, Brown was in the same position. The 1976 graduate grew up the son of a National Guardsman and from the age of 14, knew he wanted to fly. His childhood was spent building model rockets, riveted by the Apollo space program’s efforts to land on the moon.
He studied history at Virginia Military Institute and joined the Air Force, in which he’s served 32 years. He is now the commandant of the Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy at the National Defense University in Washington, D.C.
On Friday, he connected what he learned at Walsingham with what he’s learned in the military. “What’s the motto at Walsingham?” he asked the students. “Faith, academics, service.”
He explained that for the students to be able to sit in a classroom in Williamsburg, soldiers have had to be willing to die to protect our country and its dearest principles. “Our military is designed to protect us and guarantee our freedoms. People have to be willing to fight or to die…they have to swear to protect you and every other person in this country, to make sure you get to do what is guaranteed in our Constitution,” he said.
Looking at the students with a serious but gentle face, Brown told them to go to a veteran and say thank you.
For the rest of his visit, he entertained the students with the exciting parts of military service. They passed his pilot helmet around, giggling as each student struggled to pull the heavy helmet back off his or her tiny head. They asked him how many medals and decorations he wears on his uniform, their eyes growing large when he answered nonchalantly, “30 or 40.”
The funniest moment of the visit came when one student asked whether Brown is still serving. “Yes, I’m still on active duty,” he said.
The student looked thoughtful and then said, “Good for you! At least you’re still hanging in there.”
Later, Brown told me his main goal was to make sure the students understood what Veteran’s Day is all about. Surprisingly most of them knew it had something to do with the First World War, but not quite what.
It began as Armistice Day, a holiday celebrated in allied nations to commemorate the end of fighting on the Western Front. As time marched on, it morphed into Veterans Day in the U.S., and instead of only honoring those who died in action, it honors all who served or continue to serve. It’s one day out of 365 devoted specifically to thanking the people who, for whatever reason, volunteered to defend our collective beliefs.
Brown and I marveled over that for a minute, talking about how people were able to vote last Tuesday without riots in the streets. “We take that for granted,” he said. “I just wanted the students to see that freedom isn’t free…veterans allow us to do that.”
Less than 1 percent of our population has served or serves in the military, he said. I’d be willing to bet at least a couple of the students in that classroom on Friday will remember his visit long after, and will join that 1 percent.
York SB Meets Monday
The York County School Board will decide whether to authorize a one-time payment to employees at its Monday meeting.
The division hopes to make a one-time payment of 1.5 percent of eligible staff members’ salaries, or $400, whichever is higher, on or around Dec. 7. The board discussed options for the one-time payments at its Oct. 8 and Nov. 5 work sessions.
Eligible staff include full-time employees and part-time employees who earn leave and are eligible to participate in the health insurance plan.
See the meeting’s full agenda here.
Incomplete GED Test Scores Expire in 2013
The current version of the GED test, the 2002 Series GED, will expire at the end of 2013, along with any incomplete test scores.
Sue Mansfield, coordinator of Williamsburg-James City County School’s GED/Adult Education program, is trying to reach the 330 people who are known to have not passed or not completed the test. “Some are so close to passing, needing in some instances only 10 points,” she said.
She encourages those 330 people to take the GED test in person at an official GED testing center (the test cannot be administered online) to complete the test and finish the degree. The cost is $58 for first-time takers and $10 for each retake of a single test.
Individuals who need to complete a current GED test can contact the local Testing Center, located at 117 Ironbound Road in Williamsburg, visit https://www.wjccschools.org or call (757) 603-6532.
Soroptimist to Award Women’s Educational Grants
Soroptimist International of Williamsburg is now accepting applications for its Women’s Opportunity Awards, which are given to women who serve as the primary wage earners for their families and seek financial assistance to go back to school.
Applications are available at the Thomas Nelson Financial Aid Office, United Way of Greater Williamsburg, Avalon Women’s Center, WJCC Community Action Agency, Grove Christian Outreach, online or by contacting Tina Sinclair at (757) 719-6783. Applications must be returned by Dec. 15.
The award can be used for tuition, books, childcare, carfare or any other education-related expense. The Williamsburg club will provide a $1,000 cash grant to its award recipient, who will then advance to the Soroptimist South Atlantic Region level, where one recipient will receive $5,000. The program culminates with three finalist $10,000 awards.
WJCC Congratulates 22 National Merit Semifinalists
WJCC Schools has 22 Commended Students in the National Merit Scholarship Program, which is based on performance on the PSAT.
Each year, approximately 34,000 Commended Students throughout the nation are recognized for their exceptional academic promise.
