Students learn Memorial Day importance

MOSES LAKE - The importance of Memorial Day could be felt across the room as three cadets marched down an aisle carrying the American flag.

Frontier Middle School students learned the meaning of the Pledge of Allegiance, what it is like to serve in Iraq, and how Native Americans honor fallen veterans during a Memorial Day assembly Monday.

Memorial Day is Monday, May 26.

Math teacher Monica Montgomery organized the event, inspired by her husband's service in Afghanistan since November.

"I wanted the kids to really have a meaningful feeling," Montgomery said.

Civil Air Patrol cadets Josh Phillips, Nick Phillips and Marshall Garrison presented the colors. Student McKenna Hirz sang the National Anthem. Choir students sang America the Beautiful and Dare to Dream.

Three members of the community presented, including Vietnam combat journalist Hank Buchmann, retired Staff Sergeant Vernon Scriven, who served in Vietnam and in Iraq, and Vietnam veteran Leonard Friedlander.

Buchmann broke down the meaning of phrases contained in the Pledge of Allegience.

"I promise my loyalty to the flag, which is a symbol of the United State of America," he said, referring to the first part of the pledge.

The pledge refers to promising allegience to the flag and to the republic, which the flag stands for, Buchmann said. The republic is the form of government, ruled by the people, he said.

Referring to "one nation," Buchmann said the United States is unique because there are 50 states that form one nation.

He said the words "under God," have been the subject of controversy, with some believing the words should be removed from the Pledge of Allegience.

"I don't know what else we would be under," Buchmann said. "One nation under Hollywood? One nation under money? One nation under the mall? I don't think so."

Indivisible means inseparable, he explained to the students. The phrase "with liberty and justice for all" means with freedom and fairness for everyone, he said.

Montgomery invited those with a family member deployed in the military to stand, and several people did. When she invited those with a family member previously deployed or who are being deployed in the future to stand, even more people stood up. The majority of the school rose when she asked those who ever had a family member serve in the U.S. military to stand.

Scriven, who is Montgomery's father, shared a day in Iraq based on his journal. Photos from his service flashed behind him as he spoke.

The day he shared was May 17, 2003. Soldiers were leaving Kuwait for Baghdad, Iraq.

"As we pull out, we can see refineries and hot, dry, dusty sand," he said.

He noted it was more than 130 degrees outside. Green shirts turned white from the salt on the wearer's bodies.

A sign they passed said, "Camel Racing Club," Scriven recalled.

The soldiers drank water that reached 120 degrees.

"I still can't drink anything hot because of that," he said.

All along the road to Baghdad, people tried to sell things to the soldiers, but the soldiers were not allowed to stop.

A boy ran up to Scriven, offering a cold Pepsi for one dollar.

"I would have given $5 for the Pepsi, but we were not allowed to buy anything from them," Scriven said.

When they entered Iraq, children begged for food and water.

There would be no buildings or sign of life, but then a child would appear out of nowhere, he said.

Soldiers drove through a village, where they were met by hundreds of starving children. He did not take pictures of the children, but he shared photos taken by other people.

Children held their hands to their mouths to signal their thirst, or rubbed their bellies to signal hunger.

Still, the soldiers could not stop.

Scriven spoke about a little girl in a red dress, whom he saw in Iraq that day. He said her skin was dark and beautiful, her eyes could look through a person, and her face showed hope.

"As many times before, she would have (come) out to beg for food and water only to be rejected because of the danger to us and other military units," he said.

Scriven added that shots were fired at the soldiers as they passed through the village.

He said he could not tell the girl that he, a grandfather of seven, was in the country to help bring her the food and water she sought.

"I have a tear for her and all the children in Iraq," Scriven said.

He said to people who want to know why the United States went to Iraq, he has a village he wants to show them, and a little girl in a red dress.

He thanked President George W. Bush for sending him to Iraq. He said he did not get a chance to return to the village, but he received good news.

"After one year (there are) no children begging along the roadway," he said.

In his speech, Scriven addressed the girl in the red dress again, saying the army which could not stop brought her the food and water she requested.

"We kept our word, and we came to help, not destroy," he said.

Friedlander said when he was in sixth grade, a teacher who served in World War II mentioned that one day, some of the students would also serve in a war.

A veteran of the Vietnam War, Friedlander said he hopes the sixth grade students today don't have to serve in a war, thanks to the individuals serving now.

He brought two feathers with him, which he wears in his grand-nephew's honor while dancing. His grand-nephew is serving in Iraq.

Friedlander told a story about the use of feathers in Native American history.

Many years ago, Native Americans had war parties, and those fighting would wear the eagle feathers they earned, Friedlander said. After a battle, the Native Americans would sing a song. While they were singing the song, a young boy arrived.

He discovered the feather he had earned was missing. The boy would have to return to the battleground to retrieve it.

Meanwhile, the enemy came upon the feather, and knowing the owner would return for it, they surrounded the feather.

When the boy arrived, he was captured by his enemies. But because of his bravery, the group decided to let the boy go, Friedlander said.

After the meeting, Friedlander noted children in the minor league baseball team he coaches dedicated their year to the soldiers in Iraq, Afghanistan and Tibet.