Westran Students Honor Veterans, Celebrate Citizenship

David Moser and grandson, Seth, show off a "steel pot" helmet liner and other Army memorabilia.

The Westran Elementary School found being rewarded for good character and honoring military veterans go hand in hand as the school celebrated both last week in a program sponsored by the Westran Elementary Student Character Council.

Veterans were invited to come and take part in the salute. Veterans attending were David Moser, Gary Bowman, Karen Bowman, Scott Morris and Jim Lippelman.

Megan Vogan and Koby Pierce, wearing camouflage attire, brought forth the colors. Megan Garrett led the assemblage in the Pledge of Allegiance and Maddy Denslow welcomed the students, faculty, administration and visitors.

“Citizenship is our character word for November,” said Maddy. “To show good citizenship a person practices their rights and duties in a responsible and respectful way.

“Veterans’ Day honors men and women who have served in the United States armed services and have shown good citizenship by serving their country.”

Two of the veterans served as speakers for the event. David Moser served eight years active duty in the Army military police and 14 years in the Reserve and Guard. He chose an assistant, his grandson Seth, to show off some of the Army memorabilia he had brought. He passed around some Army boots and had Seth model his “steel pot’ a helmet liner. He also showed the group his garrison cap that could be folded and kept in a pocket.

Moser attained the rank of Staff Sergeant and served in Italy, Germany, France, Turkey and Mexico.

Moser related an important facet of his Army career to life as a civilian.

“I was young,” he said. “I had to do what they told me to do and it made me a better person. Good citizenship makes your school, makes your town a better place to live.”

Scott Morris, a Navy veteran, spoke of dreams. Dreams elementary students have of being firemen, policemen, doctors, teachers.

“You dream about something more than you are right now,” said Morris. “You have to be willing to do what it takes to fulfill those dreams. You have to work hard and study. Dreams can make you better citizens, better people. Dreams can take you around the world.”

Morris told the students of the freedoms that military veterans have won for them, to give them the ability to have dreams and see them come true.

“There are little kids in Afghanistan that never had a dream to be a firefighter,” said Morris. “Children in Iraq can’t dream of being teachers. The uniforms of our military signify the wars fought and freedom earned. Your life would be totally different if it weren’t for these uniforms. So be thankful for the military that lets you have dreams.”

Other council members taking part in the program include: Tristin Case in navy dress with Skylar White reading the history of that branch of the military. Brenden Cobb wore the uniform of the Army as Kinsley Block read the history. Zach Wisdom displayed the jacket of the Coast guard with Hannah Courtney reading the history. Zach Gibson represented the Air force with Aeon Long reading the history and Zane Still wore the jacket of the Marine Corps as Tyse Burckhardt gave the history of that branch of the military. The five representatives stood at attention at the front of the gym throughout the program.

A thank you poem was read by Elizabeth Lippelman.