Giving Back
A Salute to Our Veterans Corona del Mar Middle School students embrace the gift of giving Article Lysa Christopher | Photography Gary Mathieson
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lthough the holidays have passed, we look back on a quiet tradition that deserves to be recognized with great fervor. It’s the annual Corona del Mar Middle School Veterans Holiday Breakfast. This beautiful, time-honored tradition takes place each year during the first week of December, when seventh- and eighth-grade students travel to the Long Beach Veterans Administration hospital to spend the day with veterans. The event provides students and their families the opportunity to recognize, honor and thank the men and women who have served in our nation’s armed forces. The goal of the program is to teach students to appreciate the sacrifice others have made—a life lesson that simply cannot be taught in the classroom. During the program, students serve food and entertain veterans. They also distribute gifts (donated by the community and individual businesses). But perhaps the most valuable lesson students learn occurs as they hear veteran heroes share their stories of unbelievable acts of cour16 Newport Beach Lifestyle | February 2014