On Monday, November 9, Bellflower Elementary was filled with patriotism, pride, and gratitude as we welcomed some very special guests for our annual Veterans Day celebration!
It was a beautiful morning dedicated to honoring the brave men and women who have served our country. We were incredibly proud to welcome veterans who are family members and loved ones of our Bellflower students and staff. Their presence made this celebration especially meaningful for our entire school community.
Our program featured a heartfelt performance by the Bellflower Children's Choir, who sang How Do You Tell a Veteran Thank You, along with student presentations, recognition of our veterans and their military branches, remarks from two honored veterans, and a special slideshow celebrating our Bellflower military families.
Celebrating Our Student Writers! ✏️
One of the most meaningful parts of our celebration was hearing from our Veterans Day writing contest winners. These talented young Cardinals shared thoughtful pieces reflecting on the importance of service, sacrifice, courage, and gratitude.
We are so proud of our student writers!
Second Grade - Carlie Faunce
Third Grade - Lincoln Hickman
Fourth Grade - Adrienne Ward & Camden Plataz
Fifth Grade - Hannah Thompson, Rilynn Ziemba, Teya Gundic
Congratulations to each of these students for using their voices and words to honor our nation's heroes!
Honoring Our Special Guests 🇺🇸
We were privileged to recognize the following veterans and their service to our country:
United States Army
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Richard Jackson
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Richard Harvey
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Larry LaBounty
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Nicolai Zimmerman
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Jesus Salinas
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Breeze Salinas
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Dillon Dunleavy
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Jeff Whetzel
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Frank Sobochan
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John Romanik III
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Mike Trader
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Michael Thorpe
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John Johnson
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Jim Allen
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David Holtz
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Joshua Meeks
United States Navy
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Mark Sheets
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Nick Oreh
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John Kuznik
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Steven Nelson
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Rich Bolden
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Nick Chase
United States Air Force
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Helen Petersburg
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Carl Maffit
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Lou Barberio
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Phil Torer
United States Marine Corps
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Paul Kendrick
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Joe Ross
Army National Guard
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Brooke Trader
United States Navy & Coast Guard
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Daniel Mooney
Each of these individuals represents a story of courage, commitment, and service. We are grateful for the opportunity to recognize their contributions and help our students understand the importance of honoring those who have served.
A Heartfelt Thank You! ❤️🤍💙
A special thank-you to our incredible Bellflower staff and students who helped make this celebration so memorable. From the beautiful music and thoughtful student writing to the patriotic atmosphere throughout our building, every detail reflected the love and appreciation our school community has for our veterans.
Most importantly, to our veterans: Thank you for your service, your sacrifices, and the example you set for our students. We are honored to have welcomed you into our school and grateful for the opportunity to celebrate you.
At Bellflower, we strive to teach our Cardinals the importance of Safety, Ownership, Acceptance, and Respect. Our Veterans Day celebration was a beautiful example of these values in action.
To all who have served, thank you. Your courage, sacrifice, and service inspire our Cardinals to SOAR! 🇺🇸