Students at Our Lady of Lourdes School celebrate Veterans Day

Friday, Nov. 25, 2016

SALT LAKE CITY – Veterans Day has changed names but it has always been a day to honor America’s veterans for their service and sacrifice.  On Nov. 10 students at Our Lady of Lourdes School celebrated Veterans Day by learning more about the holiday through poetry, symbolism, service and prayer. 

Gathering in their school family groups, the students began by reading arguably the world’s most famous War Memorial poem, In Flanders Fields by Lt. Col. John McCrae.  Afterward, they then discussed its history, meaning, and message, and the significance of the poppy in the poem.

The students also talked about what it would be like to be away from family and home when deployed. One student commented how it would be sad to be away from your family during the holidays.  A special note of thanks was written by each student to Utah servicemen and women who were recently deployed to Kuwait for a year.

The Veterans Day activities also included the students learning more about the United States flag, its significance, and how to correctly fold it. Thanks to a parent at the school  who is a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army, each student received their own small flag to practice folding.  These flags will be sent, along with the thank-you notes, to U.S. troops in Kuwait.

Lt. Colonel Hanna was given such a flag and note while he was deployed, and talked with the eighth-grade family group leaders about how that gift helped carry him through his deployment.

The activities concluded with a special prayer said by the entire student body and faculty, for soldiers of the past and present.  Our Lady of Lourdes students have a greater understanding and appreciation for Veterans Day and what it stands for.  They are happy to support our troops in this way, and are grateful for their service and sacrifice our veterans make every day.