Laura Young
ECB Publishing, Inc.
About 50 to 60 Greenville Elementary students in grades two through six have become active participants in the school's new Flag Squad. Principal Kathryn Bridges started the civics-based program this year to teach citizenship and build leaders among the student body.
One of their partners in accomplishing these goals has been Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 251 of Monticello. John Nelson, who served as VFW National Deputy Chief of Staff 2009-10, visited the students on Feb. 17, teaching them about the history and symbolism of the United States flag and working with them to replace the torn U.S. flag on the school's flagpole. Then on April 17, Nelson returned with the VFW Post 251 Acting Commander Kent Watson, and together they gave a presentation to the Flag Squad on the flag of the State of Florida, including a ceremony to raise that flag on the school's flagpole as well. They also engaged the students in thinking about their future and whether they had considered a military career.
Now the Flag Squad raises and lowers the flags every day, and their educational activities take place during the school day as well. School Resource Officer Nikki Brunson explains that the program teaches students Americanism, provides an understanding of why we say The Pledge of Allegiance and activates their citizenship, anchoring it in the tenets of the Constitution. The students also are learning leadership skills through Flag Squad routines, such as giving orders and following orders and following Robert's Rules of Order for decision-making.
“I'm glad that we could instill the importance of patriotism into young people,” Watson recently commented. “I try to impress upon young people that the military offers some of the very best educational benefits to be found.”
Principal Bridges invited Watson back to Greenville Elementary this week to speak further with the students about Building Blocks for Success.
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