Students Thank Veterans with Streamers, Song and ‘Thank Yous’

On Friday, Nov. 8, 2024, Furnace Woods Elementary School hosted a Veterans Day celebration in the school courtyard. Staff members Rob Riley (Navy), Scott Gilbert (Army) and Kathy Rambin (Army/National Guard) were joined by community members Bill Murray (Marines), Jon Berlow (Air Force), David Smyth (Army) and Jeffrey Parker (Marines) as veterans who were distinguished guests for the event.

Furnace Woods students heard from Principal Josh Cohen and Rambin — an active Army Staff Sergeant and retired member of the National Guard — about the importance of Veterans Day, a Federal holiday observed on Nov. 11. Veterans Day celebrates America’s veterans for their patriotism, love of country and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.

Afterward, students lined up to present posters, pictures and “thank you” notes to recognize the veterans for their service. They then returned to rejoin classmates and sang the song, “The Veterans March.”

Music teacher Nathaniel Wardlaw, who led the students in the performance, said he worked with classes for over a week on the song, which he called “a nice, accessible song for the kids.”

Wardlaw discussed the holiday and asked students if they had any personal connections in their family to Veterans Day.

While performing the song, students waved red, white and blue streamers en masse, and the veterans and other adults in attendance smiled wide while watching the engagement in the crowd.

“My son has been practicing. The kids were very excited,” said Lauren Stanco, a Board of Education trustee whose son, Trent, is a kindergartener. “Mr. Wardlaw is great. He does so many fun things for the students.”

Wardlaw said the event gave the young students a vehicle to work on several musical skills.

“It was a great opportunity to practice singing, and learn how to work with musical beats — while at the same time honoring our veterans,” Wardlaw said. “Things like this are great for our school community.”