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SALUTING VETERANS: Teacher honored for annual tribute
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| Homage: Fourth-grade student Tyler Byfield, above, shows his letter to World War II veteran Ray Casper after students from Bob Singler's class read letters they wrote to veterans at the local VFW Post 6271. (Adam Bernal/photo.) |
Adam Bernal/San Pedro Valley News-Sun
In honor of Veterans Day, Benson Primary students from Bob Singler's fourth-grade class read personal letters addressed to local veterans to show appreciation for what they have done for others throughout their lives.
On Monday, students from Singler's class went to the VFW Barney-Figueroa Post 6271 and read personal letters aloud to a room full of veterans and other members of the community. The students expressed their admiration for relatives who have performed military service and everything else the veterans have done to make the nation what it is today.
In his eighth year of having his fourth-grade students write letters for Veterans Day, Singler was honored as the Cochise County VFW Teacher of the Year by Ron DeSpain, commander for the VFW Post 6271, for his service to veterans in the local community.
Singler said it was his first time receiving a Teacher of the Year honor and was glad to see the community recognize him for his teaching.
"It's a great honor and very much appreciated," Singler said.
During the ceremony, fourth-grader Matthew Macias told the audience how he admired veterans for fighting for the country and sacrificing their lives for others. Macias said he appreciates everything veterans have done for him and others as well.
"Your family would say they are proud of you but right now, I am proud of you," Macias told veterans.
Fourth-grade student Brandon Pattie said he better understands how hard life can be as a veteran and hopes they will continue to offer their guidance to other people.
"Thank you for being a veteran and not giving up," Pattie said. "We respect you and want to listen to what you can share with us."
Fourth-grade student Dylan Saenz said he wanted to thank veterans for all the sacrifices they've made and called them heroes for bringing heaven on earth to everyone in the world. Student Brendon Lodzinski said he wished all the veterans well with everything in their lives and believes they're all super heroes in their own way.
While not a veteran himself, Singler said he has known many veterans and has felt for some time they needed as much support from the community as possible.
"My heart goes out to them and I feel like they deserve some appreciation," Singler said.
Since public speaking and reading a personal letter of appreciation are part of the fourth-grade curriculum, Singler said he originally decided to incorporate those ideas with his students as a Veterans Day project. He said the activity gives students an opportunity to learn more about veterans by teaching them about soldiers, the possibility of the military as a career choice and what it means to be an American patriot.
Every year the students have read their letters, Singler said the veterans have been very grateful to see the children recognize what they've done for the country.
"They've done so much for us and this is a token of our appreciation," Singler said.
Walter Lukasavage, a veteran of World War II, stressed that the only true heroes were the ones who had to make the ultimate sacrifice for their country. People never get to hear how these veterans felt or thought and they deserve the utmost respect for what they have done, he said.
Spence Engle, who has served as the chaplain for the VFW Post 6271, said the letters from students are refreshing and very encouraging since it shows the younger generation is learning what he and other veterans have done to help the country be a safe place.
"It restores your faith in oncoming generations," Engle said. "Some of the heartfelt thoughts coming from a 10-year-old are amazing."
In honor of Veterans Day, Benson Primary students from Bob Singler's fourth-grade class read personal letters addressed to local veterans to show appreciation for what they have done for others throughout their lives.
On Monday, students from Singler's class went to the VFW Barney-Figueroa Post 6271 and read personal letters aloud to a room full of veterans and other members of the community. The students expressed their admiration for relatives who have performed military service and everything else the veterans have done to make the nation what it is today.
In his eighth year of having his fourth-grade students write letters for Veterans Day, Singler was honored as the Cochise County VFW Teacher of the Year by Ron DeSpain, commander for the VFW Post 6271, for his service to veterans in the local community.
Singler said it was his first time receiving a Teacher of the Year honor and was glad to see the community recognize him for his teaching.
"It's a great honor and very much appreciated," Singler said.
During the ceremony, fourth-grader Matthew Macias told the audience how he admired veterans for fighting for the country and sacrificing their lives for others. Macias said he appreciates everything veterans have done for him and others as well.
"Your family would say they are proud of you but right now, I am proud of you," Macias told veterans.
Fourth-grade student Brandon Pattie said he better understands how hard life can be as a veteran and hopes they will continue to offer their guidance to other people.
"Thank you for being a veteran and not giving up," Pattie said. "We respect you and want to listen to what you can share with us."
Fourth-grade student Dylan Saenz said he wanted to thank veterans for all the sacrifices they've made and called them heroes for bringing heaven on earth to everyone in the world. Student Brendon Lodzinski said he wished all the veterans well with everything in their lives and believes they're all super heroes in their own way.
While not a veteran himself, Singler said he has known many veterans and has felt for some time they needed as much support from the community as possible.
"My heart goes out to them and I feel like they deserve some appreciation," Singler said.
Since public speaking and reading a personal letter of appreciation are part of the fourth-grade curriculum, Singler said he originally decided to incorporate those ideas with his students as a Veterans Day project. He said the activity gives students an opportunity to learn more about veterans by teaching them about soldiers, the possibility of the military as a career choice and what it means to be an American patriot.
Every year the students have read their letters, Singler said the veterans have been very grateful to see the children recognize what they've done for the country.
"They've done so much for us and this is a token of our appreciation," Singler said.
Walter Lukasavage, a veteran of World War II, stressed that the only true heroes were the ones who had to make the ultimate sacrifice for their country. People never get to hear how these veterans felt or thought and they deserve the utmost respect for what they have done, he said.
Spence Engle, who has served as the chaplain for the VFW Post 6271, said the letters from students are refreshing and very encouraging since it shows the younger generation is learning what he and other veterans have done to help the country be a safe place.
"It restores your faith in oncoming generations," Engle said. "Some of the heartfelt thoughts coming from a 10-year-old are amazing."
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The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of bensonnews-sun.com.
sharon walkinshaw wrote on Nov 13, 2008 2:07 PM:
Ray Casper is my dad and I am so very proud of him and all the veterans. What a good way to teach our children respect for all our vets.
Sharon Walkinshaw
Burlington Co. "