Students challenged to think about, appreciate veterans

FLOWERY BRANCH - The keynote speaker at Martin Elementary School's Veterans' Celebration Friday said he hoped to get the students to thinking about what veterans do for them and their country.

Maj. Kevin Jarrard, himself a Marine Corps combat veteran, said "(I) wanted them to understand the significance of Veterans Day, give them an opportunity to think about some of the things veterans do for them and for their country, and really communicate the thankfulness all of us as Americans should have for Veteran's, those who have served and those who are continuing to serve now."

Jarrard is now the Commandant of Cadets at Riverside Military Academy in Gainesville.

Also on hand was SSgt. Casey Taylor of the U.S. Army National Guard's 121st Infantry Regiment (Charlie Company), which is based in Gainesville. One hundred of its members are now deployed to Afghanistan. Sgt. Taylor said Friday they are on track to come home sometime in the spring.

About the Martin Elementary School event, Sgt. Casey said "(It's) really cool coming to (an) elementary school, see kids and (especially) little girls...since armed services (are) so wide open they want to serve, too."

The school principal, Tamara Etterling, feels the program is important for the students as well as the veterans who participate "to teach students a sense of community and respect for others and we feel like Veterans' Day is a way to do that."

Why does the school hold its Veterans Day observance a week early?

"To grab everyone in armed forces who may be booked next week," Etterling said.

While at the school Friday morning, both Casey and Jarrard - in an interview with AccessNorthGa.com, discussed Thursday's shooting rampage at Ft. Hood, Tex., where 13 people were killed and 30 wounded.

"(You) spend so much time overseas and there's no feeling like coming home and then come home and have something like that happen on your own post," Sgt Casey said.

Maj. Jarrard agreed.

"I think anytime you hear of a loss of life of those serving in uniform you remember your comrades who have not returned," he said. "There is an element of sadness to it, but we hope that their sacrifices were not in vain, being it those who died at Fort Hood yesterday or those who have died in the service of our country in other times and places."