FORT HUACHUCA — The ceremony brought tears to Christina Fontanilla’s eyes.
“It was wonderful,” said Fontanilla, whose daughter Maggie participated. “I know how proud she is of her father. We all are.”
  
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Maggie, along with the rest of the second-grade students at Col. Johnston Elementary School, paid tribute to veterans during a Veterans Day program on Nov. 13 called “Many Are Called, None Are Forgotten.”
The program, put on by the classes of Fatima Baeza, Georgia Bernheim and Trisa Lasley, gave a brief history lesson on Veterans Day, featured the posting and retiring of the colors by the Marine Corps Detachment Color Guard, several patriotic songs and poems — including playing each of the military branches theme songs — as well as the Pledge of Allegiance, a moment of silence and the playing of “Taps.”
Perhaps the most moving part of the program for family members who attended was the presentation of gifts by students, who gave a red, white and blue, heart-shaped necklace to either a veteran in their family or a representative of that veteran.
Sgt. 1st Class Eric Lofton said he was proud to receive the necklace from his daughter, Eri’Aysha.
“It was nice,” he said. “They put a lot of effort into it (the program).”
He said he felt it helped his daughter get a better grasp on why he has been deployed, having just returned from his second deployment to Iraq in April.
In Aaron Bowles’ case, he gave the necklace to his mother, Leigh, as his father is deployed.
“I think it’s awesome,” Leigh said. “I think it gave them a sense of pride.”
Leigh said preparing for the program was educational for Bowles, as he learned a lot about his family’s long history of service in the military, including both grandfathers and a great-uncle.
Teachers requested their students learn about their family’s military history so they could put together a wall of honor paying tribute to all the veterans in each student’s family.
Bernheim said she felt it was important for the students to learn more about their family’s history, as well as getting a better understanding of what it means to serve in the military.
“Especially on a military post I think it’s important to show respect,” Bernheim said, adding that, in many cases, the students know their parents are “in the Army,” for example, but don’t really know what that means.
Baeza said it’s amazing to think about how strong the students are, having to deal with one or both parents being deployed or facing deployment.
“You feel pride for the children, and you see how resilient and strong the students are,” she said.
“They know they need to not give their parents another thing to be worried about (while deployed),” Bernheim added.
And all three teachers felt the performance was a success.
“I’m so proud,” Lasley said. “I cried through the whole thing.”
Herald/review reporter Katie Evans can be reached at 515-4611 or by e-mail at katie.evans@svherald.com.
