For the fourth consecutive year Memorial Park Elementary School (MPS) hosted a celebration of veterans. This year’s theme was MPS Heroes Challenge: Overcoming Obstacles for our Heroes. Students, faculty, staff, members of the local legion, veterans from Harding Nursing Home and Clear Path for Veterans representatives participated in the school wide event that took place on Nov. 8.
The event combined physical activity with meaningful tribute to honor veterans. Students were able to participate in an obstacle course challenge and showcase the “MPS Wall of Heroes” where students and staff members fill out a special form to spotlight a friend or family member that has served or is currently serving. Leading up to the event, students collected spare change to donate to local veterans and Clear Path for Veterans, an organization based in Chittenango that offers a wide range of services, programs, and events to support local veterans and their families.
“The Positivity Project planning team started this wonderful tradition in 2021 because we wanted to instill the true meaning of Veterans Day to our young students,” said Jody Thomas, special education teacher and Waterville’s Positivity Project ambassador. “We didn’t want it to be just a day they read about and then had a day off from school. We also wanted it to be interactive and meaningful.”
The school has a tradition of celebrating Veterans Day with events that have been well attended. In 2021, students and teachers connected with Team Red, White & Blue (Team RWB) and had their own “Old Glory Relay” in the gym that was modeled after their national Old Glory Relay. Students raised money leading up to the event to donate to Team RWB.
In 2022, the school partnered with Wounded Warriors and did a “Carry Forward” event based on their national event. In 2023, the school partnered with Clear Path for Veterans and did a “Ride and Run” based on their local race.
