Editor:

The many Veterans Day celebrations this year were great, but the highlight of the week for me was the Tribute to Veterans by the second grade class of Fairhope Elementary School under the direction of music teacher Ann Whatley. The 230 young students put on a production worthy of a Broadway Theater. They belted out patriotic songs and played difficult numbers with hand bells while dressed in period costumes of historic America. The costumes were a work of art.

The young student dressed as Gen. George Washington who spoke to us was especially appropriate. General Washington was the general who authorized the Purple Heart Award for wounded soldiers, and this medal has been a badge of honor ever since. The same for the girl dressed in the Statue of Liberty costume who also spoke to us. She reminded me of the 77th Infantry Division Statue of Liberty patch whose members wore it in the Meuse Argonne Offensive in World War II and by those who fought on Okinawa in the Pacific in WWII. My thoughts went briefly to another time, a familiar patch, and the Division slogan “Ours to Hold It High.”

The patriotic songs by the youngsters made us all very proud. I was a guest of my granddaughter and great-granddaughter and thoroughly enjoyed the program along with other veterans from all wars. To the second grade class and their music teacher, I proudly salute you. My compliments also to all the second grade teachers who assisted in the “Tribute to Veterans.”