November 11, 2019, 5:45pm
By St. Vrain Valley School District
On Friday, the Mead Middle School cafeteria was filled with buzz as students, teachers, and staff continued their tradition of hosting an annual breakfast to honor local veterans. Seventh and eighth grade students plated hot meals and refilled coffee cups to community members who served in the armed services as far back as World War II. Each year, veterans are invited through local chapters, and guests often include veterans who are family members of Mead Middle students. The eighth grade choir performed “America the Beautiful” and “Simple Gifts” for their guests of honor. “While we were performing, I could see some veterans singing along and others were smiling,” said eighth grade choir student, Haili Weldon. “This event was made to honor our veterans and you could tell that it was special for them.”
Haili continued, “It was great to see the vets come in and share their stories with the students. I was really impressed with how the students were able to collaborate to put on the event.” Teacher Megan Lawless led the choir and remarked that witnessing the community building is her favorite part of the annual breakfast. “To see so many parts of the school come together is very meaningful. It means a lot to the students to get involved and give back to the community and we as teachers love it just as much,” said Lawless. After the performances, students were able to visit with the veterans in small groups and have a conversation about service. Veterans shared pictures and mementos from their experiences overseas or here at home.
Eight grade student, Ike Campbell, who delivered the welcoming remarks to the veterans, emphasized that it’s important to honor veterans and recognize them for their service. He was happy with how many people participated in the event. “So many people helped to put it together and so many people came to share their stories,” said Ike. He continued, “My favorite part of the event was meeting new people and learning the different ways our veterans have served.”