In honor of Veterans Day on Friday, Nov.11, seven classes from Stevens Creek Elementary partnered with Operation Handwarmer to sing and record festive songs for oversea troops to enjoy in the upcoming holiday season.
Operation Handwarmer, a non-profit founded with local resident Burt Sappenfield and Century 21 Larry Miller Realty, gathers donated supplies every year at two drop off locations in Evans, Ga., and delivers them to oversea soldiers.
From his own first-hand experience of seeing soldiers cry after receiving unremarkable items, Sappenfield said soldiers can be greatly encouraged in their unbearable environments through songs, hand warmers and other much needed supplies.
“When they receive these care packages and see the videos of the children singing, it shows them that people care – that we care,” he said. “We’ve even had a soldier in the past see his own kid singing in the video.”
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Dressed in their finest on Thursday morning, Nov. 10, many second graders proudly sang, smiled and danced along to a variety of songs that ranged across several different religions and celebrations.
Rita Spencer, who has been teaching at the elementary for 23 years, said she believes the program teaches students the importance of supporting those overseas.
“Children need to know, in a very nice and simple way, that freedom isn’t free,” she said. “We have soldiers that are overseas who protect us and keep us safe.”
While the children’s singing is just a small way to say thank you and show appreciation, Spencer said she also believes soldiers gain a great deal from seeing the students because it encourages them to keep fighting.
“They need to see what they’re fighting for and what they are protecting,” she said.
First year music teacher at Stevens Creek and combat veteran, Melissa Blizzard, said she wanted to incorporate a number of songs that spanned different cultures in order to highlight inclusivity in and outside the classroom. She wanted the songs to be just as diverse as the nation’s soldiers.
“We have children from so many diverse cultures and I didn’t even hit them all. It’s important for children to see themselves and their classmates in their education,” she said. “We are a diverse country, and our military is a diverse force … and we need to reflect the culture that we actually live in.”
Blizzard said she was so proud to celebrate the nation through teaching her students about other cultures. By sharing with classmates how they observe divergent holidays and ceremonies, Blizzard said many second graders began the year by being “culture bearers” when practice started in August.
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“We got to go around the classroom through this process and ask, ‘Who celebrates Hanukkah, and how do you celebrate it at your house,’” she said. “They were thrilled to be able to share and it makes us all stronger. It makes us all better humans.”
In the midst of the performance, 7-year-old Owen Smith read a dedicated letter aloud thanking his father for his selfless service to the country.
This year, Smith, who’s father has been deployed five times since his birth, will be celebrating the holidays with his dad; Smith’s teachers said he is beyond thrilled to have him home.
Whether it be through donating supplies with Operation Handwarmer, children singing songs to faraway troops or leading such programs, Sappenfield said he believes anyone can help contribute to thanking troops and veterans.
“It means so much to them, like you wouldn’t believe,” he said.
To donate supplies with Operation Handwarmer visit: https://operationhandwarmerus.com
Drop off locations can be found at Larry Miller Century 21 Office on 235 N. Belair Rd. and Kelly Lawrence State Farm Insurance 4779 Washington Rd. in Evans, Ga.
Liz Wright is a staff writer covering education and general assignments for The Augusta Press. Reach her at liz@theaugustapress.com
