'Bring Your Veteran to School Day' at Goodridge

• "These people put their lives on the line to do a job many of us would never ever contemplate."
• "So%2C one day out of every year%2C it is not too much to give them. They are walking%2C talking historians."

HEBRON – The air was crisp outside of Goodridge Elementary School on a cloudy Nov. 11 as hundreds of students and their families gathered to celebrate Veterans Day. The gratitude expressed, however, warmed many hearts.

"On this day, many schools are out," said Goodridge Student Council president Laci Wagner to the large crowd. "For many kids it's a time to sleep in or play, but we are proud to come to school and learn what Veterans Day is all about."

According to Wagner, the day is about honoring the men and women who've served their country, including those who've fallen in the line of duty.

"It's important to honor all of our veterans," the fifth-grade student said. "The price of freedom is high and we can't forget those who've kept our country safe."

This year marked the school's ninth annual Take Your Vet (and active military personnel) to School Day. The day opened with a ceremony at the Conner High School football stadium, adjacent to the elementary school. The ceremony included a speech from Wagner, information on the history of Veterans Day, original poems by Goodridge students, a serenade from the third-grade class and an introduction of each veteran present.

According to Goodridge Family Resource Coordinator Laura Mosqueda, the event started as a small meeting of students around a flag pole and has grown to include almost 100 veterans.

She said this event is important because it teaches students to have appreciation for veterans, as well as brings history to life.

"Veterans are an important part of our history," Mosqueda said. "One we don't celebrate enough. These people put their lives on the line to do a job many of us would never ever contemplate and so, one day out of every year, it is not too much to give them. They are walking, talking historians."

Bob Holtkamp, who served in the Army during the Vietnam War, said he appreciates participating in Bring Your Veteran to School Day. His granddaughters Cammie and Cara Woten invited him and their other grandfather Jerry Woten, who also served during the Vietnam War.

"This is really a fantastic thing," Holtkamp, of Cincinnati, said. "It's wonderful that people remember us in this way. It's nice to know they're thinking of us."

Jerry Woten, who traveled from Celina, Ohio, for Bring Your Veteran to School Day, said he enjoyed the event because it's an opportunity for him to share his experiences with his granddaughters. According to Woten, it's important to share this part of history with younger generations. He shared a special part of that history last night, he said, with his oldest granddaughter Cammie.

"She got me crying," he said. "Last night, when I got in, I gave her a combination medal given to me by a friend and fellow veteran who died of cancer," he said. "It was real special."

Cammie, who loves both of her grandfathers, said she likes being able to spend Veterans Day with them.

"This is an important day," she said. "It's a day to honor our veterans and all those who serve. They deserve it, they gave us freedom."

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