Veterans Day Honoring Their Service Remembering Their Sacrifice

Igrew up in a military family and served on active duty in the US Air Force for 21 years. So when I finally retired in 2013 and moved to Argyle, for the first time since I was in the second grade in upstate New York, I was not living in the immediate vicinity of a military base.

For the first time in about four Intermediate School would host a breakfast decades, I wasn’t seeing people in for us, and Argyle Middle School would have uniform wherever I went. I wasn’t seeing an assembly with veterans and their families fighter jets flying overhead, and I didn’t as special guests. Argyle High School was hear the National Anthem play over truly special – after a welcoming breakfast, loudspeakers at 4:30 p.m. many of our local veterans as the duty day came to an end. For me, it was almost THANK would head to the auditorium to join panel discussions with like being on foreign soil – I didn’t quite know what to YOU FOR history classes throughout the day. This was always a treat. expect from a community Since my first time so isolated from the military culture. YOUR participating in 2015, our panel has included parents If I was on foreign soil, figuratively speaking, it wasn’t long before I realized SERVICE of Argyle ISD students, a student’s great-grandfather who was a World War II pilot, I was not by any means as well as Argyle resident unwelcome. Especially when I began Lieutenant General (Retired) Charles working at Argyle ISD in 2014, I began to Hamm who, coincidentally enough, was see just how appreciative this community the Superintendent of the US Air Force and the Eagle family really are. Academy in the late 1980s when I was

Up until this year, with COVID-19 a cadet there! Last year, my father was radically changing everything we do, visiting during Veterans Day and, as a our Veterans Day activities were always retired Colonel who served 27 years in something to look forward to. Hilltop the US Air Force, joined us on stage for Elementary School would display uniforms the day. It was a true pleasure to share the worn by me and other local veterans, Argyle spotlight with my Dad!

Last year, Argyle ISD did something new which also resonated with Argyle ISD students and families. At the last home football game, around two dozen veterans from the Argyle community gathered in the end zone prior to the start of the game, formed up, and saluted the colors when the AHS band played the National Anthem. People in the stands probably couldn’t tell, but there were tears in our eyes as us “old guys” were able to honor our nation together.

Sadly, COVID-19 has not allowed us to continue these amazing traditions. But that does not mean the appreciation has been any less noticeable. The school choirs posted excellent renditions of our service songs and the National Anthem, and the “thank yous” are clearly heartfelt. Tribute videos were created by all the campuses and are available on the district and campus websites and social media. These were incredible celebrations by our Eagles!

All of our veterans signed up for various reasons, but it was never for the applause. Still, what we experience here in Argyle ISD shows us what we and our families endured and sacrificed still resonates with the community and our young people here. For this, we are grateful in return.