Service Learning students celebrate Veteran’s Day

Serving in the armed forces for our country is a great privilege for so many men and women past and present. This year approximately 300 veterans will be attending Veteran’s Day celebration from 3-5 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 11, at the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park, 7301 E. Indian Bend Road, Scottsdale.

Fifty Service Learning students from Arcadia, Chaparral, Coronado, Desert Mountain and Saguaro high schools will help remember those men and women, past and present, who have fought and continue to fight for freedom. The students will help set up and break down the event, participate in the Pledge of Allegiance and Sam Gray, an 11th grade student at Desert Mountain High School, will speak at the event.

“Our Service Learning students learn the importance of service at all levels and the dedication, loyalty and commitment of those who serve and have served to protect our heritage,” said John Baird, director of Service Learning and Community Schools.

For the past 10 years Scottsdale schools Service Learning students have been participating in the Veteran’s Day at the Railroad Park. Students volunteer to help out with this project because they are engaged in the historical connection of service and those who have served our country.

The 108th Army National Guard Band will perform. The keynote speaker is Tonya Lorenz, field engineer with General Dynamics, will share her experiences of spending 14 months with the rescue forces in the Middle East. Other speakers include Scottsdale Mayor Mary Manross, U.S. Congressman J.D. Hayworth and Major General David P. Rataczak, Arizona National Guard.

Veteran’s Day, formally knows as Armistice Day, is the anniversary of the armistice that ended World War I on Nov. 11, 1918.

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