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Union Mill Celebrates Freedom

School spends 2 weeks doing community outreach, music, art, writing

Connection Newspaper
By Bonnie Hobbs
03.13.08

At Union Mill Elementary, the word "freedom" is more than a concept ‹ it's a way of life. And the entire school spent the past two weeks carrying out a program called, "Celebrating Freedom and Supporting the Men and Women Who Protect It."

RUNNING FROM Feb. 25 through March 7, it encompassed music, art, writing and community outreach. And the students showed their support of the military by collecting items for the local Fisher House affiliated with Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington, D.C.

"What you're collecting and what you're doing will help make their lives easier," Fisher House Manager Kate Deyermond told the students during an assembly last week. "Just remember, what you do is a positive thing."

Established by noted philanthropist and patriot Zachary Fisher and his wife Elizabeth in 1990, Fisher Houses serve military families during times of medical crises. Each is within walking distance of a military hospital and provides a comfortable, temporary home for family members whose loved ones are receiving treatment for serious illnesses or injuries. (See www.fisherhouse.org).

During the "Celebrating Freedom" drive, Union Mill students donated things such as DVDs, clothing, toiletries and baby items. Many staff members and parents also contributed their time to make this program a huge success ‹ with the school ultimately amassing more than 3,000 items for Fisher House. And sixth-graders' poems and essays about freedom were included along with the donated items.

School staff, community leaders and representatives from various branches of the armed services appeared daily on the UMTV morning news. And some mornings during the drive, student musicians played patriotic music in the school lobby.

IN CLASS, teachers discussed the meaning of freedom, and children created their own flags illustrating their ideas of freedom. In addition, all students received red, SCA-sponsored wristbands reminding them of their freedoms and of the men and women who help protect them.

The activities began Feb. 25, with The Chantilly Academy's Air Force ROTC cadets presenting the Colors and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. They culminated last Thursday, March 6, with a special Freedom Assembly. The program was dedicated to Army 1st. Lt. Jeff Kaylor, who attended Union Mill from 1987-91, graduated from Centreville High, got married and then was tragically killed, April 7, 2003, at age 24, while serving his country in Iraq.

Members of the George Mason University Color Guard opened and closed the ceremony and also shared with the students their individual reasons for choosing to join the military. Guided by music teacher Lee Larsen, fifth-graders Michael Severance and Samuel Light on piano, and Nicholas Rupert on cello, performed a patriotic medley. Then the fifth- and sixth-grade chorus sang the National Anthem. SCA President Chase Heiner led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Union Mill's All-County Chorus students performed "God Bless the USA." Then second-grader Paige Richbourg and sixth-graders Bethany Forte, Quint Bailey, Jenna Green and Avery Rocke read their essays on what freedom means to them.

Next, Larsen presented Army Lt. Col. James Overbye, professor of military science at GMU, with a signed photo of last year's freedom celebration at Union Mill. And Overbye said the words he heard in the student essays were "an inspiration" to him and his cadets.

Then Andy Morse ‹ parent of Union Mill third-grader Kay and director of major gifts at Mount Vernon ‹ presented school Principal Larry Burke with a flag that was flown over Mount Vernon, George Washington's home.

Morse and his wife Beth, of Balmoral, provided the money for a portrait of Washington, which they also gave to the school. The painting is a replica of the original by Rembrandt Peale, and the portrait presentation is part of a national program Mount Vernon is doing.

"When Mr. Burke and I were in school, all classrooms had a portrait of George Washington," Andy Morse told the children. Thanking him, Burke said, "We're grateful for this beautiful gift. It's going to hang in our lobby."

BURKE THEN played "America the Beautiful" on the saxophone, along with sixth-graders Matthew Severance and Rachel Anderson, plus Larsen on piano.

"It's a nice event," said Overbye after the assembly. "It's an opportunity for the cadets to share their experiences with the students. And seeing college students instills in the elementary students the importance of continuing their education."

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