Freeport students, staff spend class time celebrating vets
BUFFALO TWP — While some schools were off Tuesday, Nov. 11, Freeport Area High School students and staff were busy serving lunch to local veterans within the school district.
With parents and grandparents gathered, students and staff said it was important to go out of their way on this day to show veterans their appreciation, listen to what they have to say and thank them.
“This means a lot to me. I care a lot about my dad. And it makes me happy that we get together to honor these veterans; and knowing what my dad went through when he was over there, it’s nice to see him honored for it. He deserves it,” Savannah Frantz, a Freeport sophomore whose dad served in the Army, said.
Freeport Area Senior High School hosted a Veterans Day luncheon with students and their loved ones who served in the military. With nearly 100 choir students singing the national anthem and the students serving up fried chicken and mashed potatoes for lunch, the school wanted to be able to express its appreciation.
“I think it’s more valuable that it is, in fact, the school who’s doing this, because not only are the kids being educated about what happens, but we can also show appreciation toward the veterans,” senior Rachel Blose said.
Rachel has family members who are veterans and other who are currently serving.
“Both my parents were veterans. All the pictures we have and flags for a veteran in our family who died, it’s pretty much all around me. So things like this mean a lot,” Rachel said.
High school principal Timothy Walters said he and other school leaders have found it important to show veterans they are a part of the Freeport community and to show how much they are appreciated. Several years ago, the school had a panel and assembly where veterans talked about their time serving the country. Last year, the school had a breakfast.
“This is a great thing and it’s definitely needed in this country. To me, it seems like there’s times where patriotism is kind of lagging and if more schools did things like this, I think it would help teach our youth, get in the right direction, show that our country does come first,” said Joe Ginito, Vietnam veteran and grandfather of freshman Ethan Everly.
Veterans who were invited to the high school Tuesday said events like these are important to have.
“This is great. Number one, to meet other veterans and to hear their stories and their sacrifices. And two, a thing I think is often overlooked is that this younger generation, these younger guys and younger ladies that perhaps might bravely want to go serve their country, we need that. We have to have that for our country. Patriotism is so important,” said Jacob Frantz, an Army veteran who served in the Iraq War, said.
While loved ones got to tell their story about serving the country, students had the chance to express how proud they were.
“It shows me that people in my district that do this, and maybe other districts doing the same type of thing, really care about veterans that went to war and went to fight for us, some who even died for us, and they still do this to show thanks for those who’ve served for us. I think it’s something really great and really important,” Frantz’s son, Hunter, a junior, said.
