— from Alex Tamayo-Wolf —

Our family would like to thank the Orcas Island Christian School for a memorable Veterans Day Parade and Ceremony last Friday.

With many veterans, POWs, and Purple Heart recipients in our own family, we are emotionally invested in veterans. The thoughtful parade that began the ceremony quickly brought that emotion out, viscerally and uncontrollably, witnessing the lone WW II veteran slowly pass through the tunnel of school kids waving flags and cheering.

The energy was unexpected and infectious, and I could see I was far from the only one instantly brought to tears.

Inside the school’s gymnasium, the veterans were honored with stories, and childish voices delivering patriotic songs. My own daughter sang for them, and she had been practicing all week.

Silently, I thanked all the veterans seated in the gymnasium; it was their personal sacrifice, and the sacrifice of all veterans and their families, that gave my daughter a life of freedom. I can never thank any veteran enough for that.

And thanks to Orcas Christian school for awakening the patriotic in all who attended the ceremony.