Freedom plans Veterans Day celebration

Freedom Elementary School will honor the men and women who have served and are serving our community and country with the annual “Let Freedom Ring” Courtyard ceremony at 9 a.m., Nov. 12, at the school, 9515 S.R. 64 E.

The ceremony will include patriotic songs led by Freedom students; Col. Larry Burnett will be the main speaker. Representatives from various branches of the service will be presented along with representatives from area first responders. Students will ring the Freedom Bell and also give a brief history and description of each flag.

VFW Post 12055 members and Bayside Church will assist with the ceremony, and Gary Holbrook, founding principal of Freedom, will serve as the master of ceremonies. Bright House Networks will provide breakfast for distinguished guests and tours of the school will be available to visitors and guests following the ceremony.

Activities leading up to the ceremony include mailing boxes of supplies to five soldiers serving oversees who have family connections to Freedom. On Oct. 30, students and staff members who brought those supplies in for the troops were given a chance to spray Principal Jim Mennes with silly string.

Also, on Nov. 9, Bright House, in partnership with The History Channel, sponsored a “Take a Vet to School” assembly for students in grades three through five. Students received souvenirs from The History Channel and Bright House.