Young citizens learn what it means to be a patriot

David Watson

Public Affairs Office

94th Regional Readiness Command

LEOMINSTER, Mass. -- A group of young citizens living in middle Massachusetts have been learning that Americans enjoy their freedom because of the personal sacrifices of patriots--veterans who stood in the gap to guarantee freedom's continuance.

Home school students of the Montachusett Area Christian Home School (MACH) group gathered with their families at the Veteran's Center in Leominster, Mass. on Oct. 29 to honor a group of veterans who came to share their experiences with them.

Opening the event with the Pledge of Allegiance and a prayer of protection for our country's service members, attendees listened intently as eight veterans shared the experiences of their service to our country.

"It is good exposure for kids to know what our Soldiers do for us, and why we are able to have the freedoms we have," said Darlene Burns, one of the event's coordinators. "It makes it very real for us to hear first-hand from the Soldiers who protect us."

Wide-eyed children listened intently as SGT Tammy Shifter, 23, of the 94th Regional Readiness Command (RRC) Office of the Staff Judge Advocate (OSJA) shared the experiences of her deployment to Balad, Iraq as a Soldier with the 325th Military Intelligence Battalion.

In between stories of enduring sand storms and 130 degree temperatures, she spoke about the desire she had as a teenager to defend that which was most precious to her--the freedoms and liberty she has as an American.

"[The decision to enlist] was something that I had to do. I just felt it was important," said Shifter.

"It makes me feel proud to know that there are kids like these who want to know what it is like to serve," continued Shifter. "I think that it is good for kids to know what it is like to serve in the military."

She also spoke about how women in Iraq are treated and what it is like to serve as a female Soldier in the Army Reserve.

In contrast, Don Mulry, a 79-year-old decorated veteran of the 94th Infantry Division and the European battlefields of WW II spoke about the necessity to answer our nation's call to arms.

He related the difficulties of battlefield survival and talked about the necessity for young Americans to develop an individual sense of patriotism.

"It is important to inculcate into the minds of our nation's youth the importance of patriotism," said Mulry.

"It is satisfying to see school children interested in patriotism and to know that the future of our country is learning its importance. [The parents] are doing a great job with those kids," said Mulry.

Other veterans spoke about serving our country during peacetime and how important it is for citizens to make sacrifices for their freedom.

They spoke about how each American must one day weigh in their minds whether it is more important to have a comfortable bed to sleep in or to be one of those who makes it possible for others to have that sense of comfort.

Meeting weekly since the start of the school year, the MACH home school students have been studying the impact of patriotism on our freedoms and liberties, while memorizing important patriotic songs including those representing each branch of our country's armed services.

The project was conceptualized by Betsy Feidler, a parent and member of the home school organization. "We started by learning patriotic songs including the Star-Spangled Banner and the Battle Hymn of the Republic, and the history and sentiment behind them," said Feidler.

Feidler went on to talk about how the students learned the history behind why the songs were written and each author's biography.

To further enhance the lessons, students were encouraged to bring in photographs of veterans known to them and to tell their stories to their classmates.

At the event's climax, students wearing shirts they had tie-dyed red, white and blue, honored each veteran with their service song and gave them cards of appreciation.

"I was impressed with how the children sat with such rapt attention as each veteran told their story. It was amazing how well they paid attention," concluded Feidler.

Speaking about the tribute given to him, Mulry stated, "While I was fighting that war, I never in my wildest dreams thought that I would ever receive the kind of appreciation that I get from people today. [The event] was a wonderful experience for me. I thoroughly enjoyed it."

COPYRIGHT 2005 U.S. Army Reserve
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