Students chanted “USA, USA, USA,” waved American flags, donned creatively crafted patriotic hats and lifted signs that thanked soldiers and first responders Thursday morning during Reeces Creek’s annual Freedom Walk, which commemorated the 24th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.
“By walking together, you show respect, unity and care for something very important. By honoring 9/11, you carry forward the lessons it gave us: Be kind and helpful to others, be brave even when things are hard, and stand together and friends, classmates and community,” Lt. Col. Josh Van Epps, 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, said to the large group of intrigued elementary students.
“Today, we can remind ourselves that we can make the world better through our actions and the way we treat one another.”
Killeen ISD hosted the 19th annual Freedom Walk at Harker Heights High School, schools throughout the district conducted their own walks, assemblies and touching tributes in honor of community heroes such law enforcement officers and soldiers.
And while students weren’t around when 9/11 occurred, the importance of honoring the lives lost, remembering and recognizing the bravery of so many, and showing gratitude to those who served then and serve now certainly transcended generations.
“Today we are paying our respects to the soldiers and first responders,” said Reeces Creek fifth-grader Yasmin Shaban, who is a member of the Coyote Ambassadors. “The military is the one protecting our country and letting us have freedom, so it’s important to pay our respects to them.”
Fourth-grader Carter Hooks, who belongs to another leadership group at Reeces Creek called “Guys with Ties” agreed with his classmate.
“This is an important day because it honors all the soldiers for what they did for us, and I am a man of respect,” he said.
With a firetruck as the backdrop, Reeces Creek parent liaison Tamaika Thomas-King –– who served 20 years in the military, including three deployments (2002, 2005, 2008) –– gave the students a chance to applaud the soldiers, firefighters and veterans in attendance. Shaban, Carter and other student leaders then gifted large, colorful banners comprised of artwork done by each grade level to the guests of honor.
Thomas-King said she hopes an event such as the Freedom Walk helps instill the value of kindness.
“We don’t have to be against each other,” she said. “It’s OK to have differences, but when it really counts, it’s important to come together.”
At Skipcha Elementary School, parents and other family members joined students and educators in a similar walk to remember.
Skipcha third-grader William Vinson said, “It’s about when the twin towers fell and people died. The (first responders and soldiers) help our country.”
Fourth-grader Brooke Woodington said, “We want to represent the freedom we have and show respect for freedom. The (police and firefighters) are out there because they help you in an emergency. I think they are really nice, and they are really brave.”
Third grade teacher Melanie Smith explained to her class the importance of Sept. 11 and shared a fitting story about helping others.
“I told the kids this morning we’re celebrating our first responders and soldiers protecting our freedom and it’s held on September 11 for a very solemn reason for all those who helped that day,” Smith said.
“We read a book called 14 Cows for America about a small village in Kenya that got together to give a gift to show that no nation is too powerful to be wounded and no group is too small to give.”
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