Veterans, thank you.  The students and staff of Medart Elementary School send a very special thank you to the veterans that attended the MES Annual American Pride Celebration on November 7^th.  Our veterans are among our Nation's finest citizens.  We honor your solemn pledge to defend our freedom.  We thank you for your example of service and sacrifice, and we pledge to uphold your legacy by teaching younger generations about your role in securing the blessings of liberty.  Your presence and participation was vital to our program. 

After a welcome by Principal Pearce, Student Council President, Brittany Hope, led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.  Fourth and 5^th graders sang Americans We and Let There Be Peace on Earth was sung by a fifth grade female ensemble.  After second and third grade students shared the poem I Love America, the audience sang America the Beautiful.  Mrs. Dana Hicks led her students in singing You're a Grand Old Flag.  Mr. Pearce shared the names of the veterans along with the branch of service and total number of years served with the audience followed by everyone singing The Star Spangled Banner.  The focus of the program was to honor our veterans, and all branches of military service were included.  Medart's faculty, staff, and students were delighted and honored that thirty local veterans were present. 

Jeremy Johnston
Buster Mathis
Ralph Pelletier
Charles Sparks
Claxton Vause, Jr.
Larry Roberts
James Taylor
Wesley Mullins
Jay Harrell
Mark Wiles
Patsy Bodiford
Larry Bruce
Frank DeCastro
Frank Metcalf
Tim Baggett
Mary Jo Wiles
Leon Metcalf
John Matthews
Christie Waters
Franklin Roberts
Tom Dunaway
Sam Roddenberry
Theo Glenn Rudd
James Lawhon
Sara Ochsner
Fred Nichols
Daniel Corley
Russell Herron
Tracee Freeman
Russ Freeman

In addition to honoring our veterans, Mrs. Linda Toler was honored for her many years of dedication to planning and preparing Veterans' Day Programs for the students and staff.  Although she recently retired, she worked with the students in preparation for their parts and led the group songs.  Mr. Pearce and Mrs. Kemp presented Mrs. Toler with a special commemorative plaque and shared with the audience the hard work and dedication that she has shown through the years. MES music teacher, Sally Chandler, shared, "She has been a person of integrity and faithfulness in sharing her patriotism with our most innocent and pure citizens:  our students."