A hero's welcome at Buckley Community Schools for Veterans Day

Students from Buckley Community Schools celebrated our local heroes in a big way during Veterans Day.

Jessica Harrand, superintendent of Buckley Community Schools, said more than 500 students and 60 veterans participated in the celebration. She said the students have been preparing for weeks, with every child from kindergarten participating to ensure our veterans know how grateful they are for their service.

“It’s a great event because they are proud of who their family members are. They are proud to guide them in the presence of the entire student population,” said Harrand.

Harrand said planning for Monday’s event started weeks in advance. Students were involved in everything from finding the veterans to arranging chaperones, coordinating the event, creating artwork and preparing breakfast.

“Even just hanging everything on the wall and placing the right number of chairs. It’s going to take a huge community effort to get this done in a really quick way,” Harrand said.

Senior Maddi Slabek, student body vice president, helped organize the event.

She said it has special meaning to her every year because she has family members who serve.

“It’s super important to honor them because they risk their lives when they serve. And we want to make sure they know how appreciated we really are for them,” said Slabek.

She said they never have a problem finding volunteers.

“Every year, every time we say what we’re doing, everyone says, ‘Oh, I can help, I can help.’ It’s just a really big problem here,” Slabek said.

For fifth-grader Clark Rector, it was the first time his grandfather, an Army veteran, was able to be a part of it.

Clark, his brother, and his sister were all allowed to accompany him to the meeting.

“I was nervous, but excited. it was my first time because he’s going to Texas for the winter, and he came here,” Clark said.

His little sister LeAnn Rector said she was happy to be part of the event and appreciates the veterans. Both grandchildren said their grandfather was a hero to them.

“I like how they save our world for us,” LeeAnn said.

Don Rector said it was extra special to have his grandchildren by his side.

“Well, you know, for years there wasn’t as much as about veterans, but now it’s nice, even people you’ve never seen before thank you for your service. I love it,” said Don.

For Navy veteran Bryce Spitzer, a former student who works as a janitor at the school, he said the event was a family affair. He had his wife and son at the celebration.

“Family is important. And without the family connection, there isn’t much to serve,” Spitzer said.

The Superintendent said the event was really about honoring our local families.

“They are our mothers and fathers or grandmothers and grandfathers. They are the people who take our children to school and pick them up. It’s our staff,” Harrand said.