Showing off their pride
Marisa O’Neil
Newport Elementary started off Veterans Day celebrations with the
bang of cannon fire from a tall ship bobbing in the waters just
beyond the school’s Proud to Be an American Day assembly on Monday.
Students wearing military caps, parents and hundreds of others
gathered on the school’s beachfront playground to pay tribute to
America and its military on a picture-perfect, sunny Southern
California day. Members of the U.S. Marine Corps, local police and
fire departments and a retired lieutenant general spoke to the
students about freedom, flag etiquette and love of country at the
third annual event.
“It’s our state and our country, and we have to be proud of it,”
said 5-year-old Peter Harano, who was wearing a black Army beret.
The patriotic celebration first started at Newport Elementary in
2001 in the midst of renewed nationalism after the Sept. 11 terrorist
attacks. In the aftermath, students started asking questions that
parent Kelly Swift, organizer of the event, thought needed to be
answered.
“They wanted to know why everyone was flying the flag, why we had
a moment of silence,” Swift said. “I wanted to do something each year
that answered those questions and celebrated being an American.”
The event has grown in its three years year into what is now a
one-and-a-half hour tribute filled with songs, patriotic speeches and
a fly-over by Newport Beach’s police helicopter Eagle. This year,
parents, students and passersby on the bike path nearly filled the
playground.
“It gets better every year,” said teacher-librarian Stephanie
Taylor, who was wearing a full Uncle Sam costume. “The children are
very enthusiastic. It brings everybody together as a community.”
With the gentle crashing waves and the 1812 replica Lynx privateer
sailing along the coast as a backdrop, members of the 228th U.S.
Marine Corps wearing their dress uniforms stood stick-straight in the
midday sun for the whole event, which included a round of “Happy
Birthday” to celebrate the Corps’ formation on Nov. 10, 1775.
Marine and former Newport Heights Elementary student Staff Sgt.
Charles “Cass” Spence -- whose wife attended Newport Elementary --
told students a little about his experience in Iraq. Freedom of
choice, he said, is an important part of being an American, like
choosing, he joked, if you like Scooby-Doo or Scrappy-Doo better.
Students also serenaded the crowd with a medley of military songs.
Kindergartners in berets stood to sing “The Caissons Go Rolling
Along.” Second-graders in Navy beanies sang “Anchors Aweigh.” Others
sang songs of the Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard.
“We practiced in our classroom every morning for a long time,”
said 7-year-old Christina O’Beck, who was wearing a sailor’s hat.
* MARISA O’NEIL covers education and may be reached at (949)
574-4268 or by e-mail at marisa.oneil@latimes.com.
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