Coral Springs Christian Academy
ACSI Region: Southeast
Location: Coral Springs, FL
Program Objective: to give middle and high school students the opportunity to make a personal connection with our nation’s heroes and to gain a greater understanding of the sacrifices that members of our country’s armed forces had to make to preserve our freedom
Summary of Program
In 2000, Coral Springs Christian Academy’s high school started the course United States Military History. This class was designed as an academic elective, and its course description states that it is “a survey of both the military experiences and issues in American history. The course analyzes war, its economics issues, technological developments, politics, and other factors that have influenced the military aspects of American history.”
The United States Military History course reflects the commitment found in the school’s mission statement to “academics, character, and service for God’s glory.” The Veterans Day Assembly, which launches Veterans Day weekend, ties in all aspects of the school’s mission statement, charging students with the task of putting on the event.
The students’ involvement in contacting veterans, praying for and with them, decorating the school chapel, organizing poster contests, producing audio and video enhancement for the pageantry, reading American military quotations, singing, and ushering the student body into the chapel exemplifies what it means to serve God and others. In this era of our country, it is of utmost importance to promote awareness of and respect for our nation’s veterans, past and present.
The Veterans Day Assembly is the only one of its kind sponsored by a school in the area. The Coral Springs city newspaper, the Coral Springs Forum, has reported on the event and mentioned that the newspaper staff have never heard of such a display of honor by a school for our nation’s veterans. Countywide parades, state functions, and national presidential recognition take place on the Veterans Day holiday. But creating an awareness by students of what veterans are and revealing to them personal stories of how these great men and women became veterans can more effectively foster a sense of ownership on the part of young citizens of our great country.
One veteran who was in attendance from New York commented on how beneficial the assembly was in terms of reaching children at a young age so that they grasp the concept of what it means to serve one’s country. George LePorte Sr. was in town to watch his grandson play football for the school. As the spokesmen for the Disabled American Veterans Association of the northeastern United States, Mr. LePorte was thrilled that the assembly was on the same weekend. He commented that present-day culture doesn’t seem to understand the notion of what it means to be a veteran and that activities such as this, which honor our sometimesforgotten heroes, create a connection for our young people to the past.
Through the hard work and dedication of the students of United States Military History, every year the assembly for our beloved veterans has grown, and it has blossomed into a time-honored affair. The one change students wanted to make to the assembly this year was to have more veterans in attendance. The students accomplished the goal through aggressive contacting and networking with veteran organizations. Setting a new record, 20 veterans were in attendance.
After each assembly, the students provide refreshments to further their personal connection with the veterans and their families. Adhering to the philosophy and creed of the school’s mission statement, the United States Military History class members serve the community and our nation, providing an example for the Christian citizen in today’s world.
Veterans Day Assembly 7.4