Wentzville Schools Celebrate Veterans Day

(The following press release was submitted by the Wentzville School District.)

Elementary schools in the Wentzville School District held Veterans Day celebrations last week and today to salute the brave men and women who have served in the U.S. armed forces.

Boone Trail, Crossroads, Discovery Ridge, Duello, Green Tree, Heritage, Lakeview, Prairie View, and Peine Ridge Elementary all invited veterans to their special activities scheduled in honor of the holiday. Veterans were treated to breakfasts, student performances, slide shows honoring past and present members of the military and special guest speakers.

Heritage fifth grade Ambassador Mallory Gomski said she is proud of her school for celebrating veterans. “I think it’s important to honor them because they fought for us and our freedom so we should celebrate that.”

Heritage students held several collections to benefit our service men and women. The Primary students donated over 75 pounds of their own Halloween candy for Operation Gratitude, otherwise known as “Treats for Troops” sent to U.S. service members deployed in hostile regions.

The Intermediate students held a coin drive and raised $960 (to date) for the Honor Flight Network that flies veterans to Washington, D.C. to visit their memorials.

World War II Veteran Harvey Puckett served in the Army Air Corps and has three great grandchildren who attend Heritage. “These celebrations are very nice. We appreciate so much the respect we receive and the honor that is shown to us.”

At Peine Ridge Elementary, a group of teachers performed a “Bugle Boy” tribute for their guests, and WWII Veteran Sam Palmer spoke at the assembly. Peine Ridge students also collected $850 which will be donated to “Folds of Honor” which helps to send children of wounded or deceased veterans to college.

Students at Lakeview Elementary celebrated Veterans Day with a ceremony featuring guest speaker Army Sgt. Byron Conquest, whose daughter is a Lakeview kindergarten student. 

Fifth grader and Student Council President Nathan Murillo also addressed the veterans and their families. “Each and every one of you is special, brave, and courageous. Each of you has sacrificed something so we can enjoy the freedoms that we have today. You are spectacular and amazing—you are our heroes.”