Walk honors veterans

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Alyson Stockton
  • 96th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  "Let us solemnly remember the sacrifices of all those who fought so valiantly, on the seas, in the air, and on foreign shores, to preserve our heritage of freedom, and let us reconsecrate ourselves to the task of promoting an enduring peace so that their efforts shall not have been in vain."

Spoken by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1954, those words told Americans why it was important that our country observe Veterans Day. Spoken by Oak Hill Elementary School fifthgrader Ryan Schilling at the school's Veterans Memorial Walk Nov. 2, those words show that America's pride in its veterans develops early.

Parents, teachers, students and guests gathered at Eglin's All Conflicts Memorial for the ceremony that featured many military-honoring acts: the dedication of a prisoner-of-war table, poetry, songs, a wreath presentation and the playing of taps.

"The most important thing you can do to honor veterans is to learn about our great country and those things that they have fought to protect and are still fighting to protect," Col. Dean Clemons, 96th Air Base Wing commander, told the students at the ceremony.

Second-grade teacher Cindy Nickless started the event more than 15 years ago, when the memorial was newly built. Since then, the ceremony has expanded beyond the second grade to include the entire school. Following Sept. 11, 2001, when many of the students' parents were preparing for deployment, Mrs. Nickless said the faculty decided the entire school should participate.

"I hope it impresses upon them that it's our responsibility to honor our military and our veterans," Mrs. Nickless said.

In appreciation of her long-standing effort to teach the children about the importance of honoring veterans, Colonel Clemons presented Mrs. Nickless his commander's coin.