Student made flags greet guests outside Wells Elementary School on Nov. 10.

Student made flags greet guests outside Wells Elementary School on Nov. 10.

WELLS  —  On Nov. 10, a day before Veterans Day, Wells Elementary School held its annual Veterans Day K-4 assembly to honor local veterans and those still serving in the military.

Numerous veterans attended this year’s event and were introduced and recognized before a large gathering of students and staff. First grade students, who made flags earlier to display, presented the vets with certificates of appreciation Multi-age third/fourth grade students presented them with personalized cards. 

Several guests spoke about what Veterans Day means to them, including Army Major Shane Maxon, commander of the 20th Special Forces, Charlie Company, and veterans Roger LaPlante, U.S. Air Force, and John Primerano, U.S. Army.   Assistant Principal Ken Spinney also took a few moments to read aloud the names of many area service men and women deployed overseas during the upcoming holiday season.

Wells High School student Kiah Holdsworth plays Taps at the Veterans K-4 Assembly at Wells Elementary School on Nov. 10.

Wells High School student Kiah Holdsworth plays Taps at the Veterans K-4 Assembly at Wells Elementary School on Nov. 10.

The Wells High School band and color guard performed and the Wells-Ogunquit Webelos Cub Scout Troop demonstrated the proper technique for folding the America flag. They also explained what the folds of the flag represent.

At the end of the Veterans Day assembly at Wells Elementary students lined up to shake hands with the guest veterans. World War II Veteran John Primerano greets students at the end of K-4 assembly Nov. 10. Behind Primerano is Roger LaPlante, a U.S. Air Force veteran.

At the end of the Veterans Day assembly at Wells Elementary students lined up to shake hands with the guest veterans. World War II Veteran John Primerano greets students at the end of K-4 assembly Nov. 10. Behind Primerano is Roger LaPlante, a U.S. Air Force veteran.

Others students who participated in the assembly included Nolan Motter, who explained the meaning of the “Star Spangled Banner,” Chloe Madsen talked about the meaning of playing Taps, Molly Tavares and Bobby Lucas  answered “Who is a Veteran?” and Derek Martin discussed the importance of gratitude and how there are heroes all around us. 

“They’re a great bunch of kids,” said World War II Army veteran John Primerano about the students in the assembly.  Primerano was 19 years old when he made his first combat jump with the 101st Airborne Division. Primerano served from 1943 to 1946.

Kin Hamlyn of the Patriot Riders of America Maine Chapter 1 spoke to students about the importance the ordinary household items that they, their parents, and school staff had collected in a special collection that ended the day of the assembly These items will be distributed to furnish housing for newly relocated homeless veterans.  According to Marty Crier of WES, six pickup loads of supplies, including furniture, were donated for this cause.

Several members of the Patriot Riders produced a banner that was hung over the front entrance to the school, marched in the assembly and lined the hallway from the school’s gymnasium as students and veterans exited. 

The assembly not only honored veterans but was a learning experience that aligns with the WES’s core values including respect and compassion.   An important goal of the assembly was to teach students about the meaning of Veteran’s Day and why it is celebrated and observed as a national holiday.

“I think it is important for the kids to get a sense of history and (understand) how we got to where we are as a country,” said Cindi Davidson who served 11 years in the U.S. Army. “It’s not like getting history out of a book, it’s like meeting people who were there and did things.”

 Larry Wicker, a veteran of the U.S. Air Force in Korea, said that this particular assembly was the best that WES has produced. “Ken does a good job,” said Wicker of Assistant Principal Spinney who coordinates the Veterans Day K-4 assembly. 

Faculty and staff who assisted with the production of the assembly included Marty Cryer, Karen Taylor, Maryanne Foley, Jere Pierce, Suzanne LaPlante-Killoran, Selena Nickerson and Principal Chris Roche.


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