Tibbals Hosts Annual Veterans Day Ceremony

It was a star-spangled celebration at Tibbals Elementary on Veterans Day. The Tigers honored servicemen and women with a heartwarming display of patriotism.

Kicking off with a special breakfast for Veterans and their families, the Tigers hosted their annual Veterans Day Parade Nov. 11, 2024.

Former Tibbals Elementary teacher Christine Monroe started the Veterans Day tradition at the school, which is now in its eighth year.

“I come from a family of veterans who have served through the years from World War II to the Afghanistan War, so Veterans Day is near and dear to my heart,” Monroe said. “I wanted to create an event and tradition for our students to understand the importance of recognizing the Veterans in our community in a way that is tangible for them. It’s an event that the students get to play a role in and you can feel the love and appreciation our Tibbals family has for our Veterans at the parade.”

Tibbals Veterans Day Parade has evolved to be a community event that includes Veterans near and far.

“Recognizing that freedom is not free is a lesson we want to instill in our Tigers,” Tibbals Principal Tiffany Leech said. “We hope to continue our Veterans Day Parade for years to come.”

From students to faculty, lots of Tigers had a role in the morning’s festivities. Boy Scouts of America Troop 1783 hoisted the American flag in a beautiful flag ceremony.

Janie Crelin, a K-4 English as a Second Language teacher, captivated the crowd by performing a stunning rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner on her violin.

“It was an honor to be asked to play the National Anthem at our Veterans Day parade,” Crelin said. “I’m thankful our school puts an emphasis on such an important holiday and recognizes the men and women that have served our country.”

The Cooper Junior High drumline, directed by Adam Powell, provided music as well.

Led by Jami Carter-Brown, choir students entertained the crowd by singing Proud of Our Veterans by Teresa Jennings.

“I am so proud of our fourth-grade students for singing a wonderful song at our Veterans Day tribute,” Carter-Brown said. “They worked really hard and sang with so much heart. It was an honor to perform for our veterans and show how much we respect and appreciate them.”

With the help of Principal Leech, students read letters to Veterans, thanking them for their service.

“Showing our gratitude to those who serve and have served is just a small gesture we can give through this special ceremony,” Leech said.

The ceremony ended with a parade of students led by Veterans and their families marching through the parking lot. Students waved flags and displayed signs celebrating America’s heroes as they paraded through the parking lot.

At the end of the parade route, students planted their flags along the sidewalk, creating a patriotic display of Old Glory.

Thank you to all Veterans for your sacrifice and service!