This past Veteran's Day, Morningside Academy Upper School held a special ceremony honoring veterans who are currently serving and remembering those who have served before. The students (grades 6-12) were called out of their classrooms for about an hour and were told the history of this national holiday and reminded of the gratitude owed to our American heroes. A flag was retired and a new one raised, and in unison, the upper school pledged allegiance to the new flag and the amazing country it represents. The retirement of the flag was new to most of the students and provided an educational and memorable experience to all. The proper way to retire an old flag is to burn it. An air of solemnity was assumed, and the new replacement flag was swiftly raised on the flag pole.

In addition, Mrs. Groton (high-school history teacher and mother of Sarah Johnson-now serving in Iraq) and Mrs. Daleb (middle-school history teacher) created a banner consisting of all the family member or friends of MSA students currently serving in any branch of the military. It was so humbling to see all of those lives pledged to the service of our country and the common goal among them all...to protect and to uphold the freedoms that we as a nation share. At the end of the ceremony, a prayer was raised for all those risking their lives and comfort at the present moment, and also a prayer of gratitude said for those who have sacrificed to give us the freedoms we use on a regular basis. Without our veterans, our country would be no different from the rest and these freedoms would be non-existent.

The ceremony provided a unique opportunity for both the students and teachers to honor those serving and to remember what a great nation our veteran's have helped to give us...a nation of freedom and perseverance, deserving of honor and praise.