Royersford ES Students Honor Veterans

It was a musical and emotional tribute today at Royersford Elementary School as the students honored local veterans. 

There was a sea of red, white and blue outfits in the cafeteria. The school was decorated with a Wall of Honor, made up of bricks listing students' military family members, and an American flag made of student handprints.

Rep. Thomas Quigley (R-146), Spring-Ford superintendent Dr. David Goodin, and Magisterial District Judge Walter Gadzicki attended as special guests of the school.

After a beautifully harmonized national anthem from a Spring-Ford high School quartet, several first grade students talked about flag etiquette.

The third grade, directed by music teacher Cynthia Heffernan, sang patriotic favorites "Grand Old Flag", "America" ("My Country, 'Tis of Thee"), and "America the Beautiful" and two other compositions titled "We Will Not Forget" and "Proud of Our Veterans".

Students spoke on freedom, sacrifice, duty, courage and honor. 

Quigley talked to students about the importance of connecting with people who have served our country and learn about the hardships they went through. 

"One of the good things about having...people who were in the military is having the opportunity to talk to them about the stories and the experience they had, there's only so much you can read in history books and so much you can see on tv programs," Quigley said.

Goodin shared that he has two sons in the military and how he felt that the military could teach them more about duty, sacrifice, self-discipline, self-respect and honor than he could. 

"I encouraged them to go in the military," Goodin said. One son is on the list to be promoted to Captain in the Army, and the second will be commissioned as a second lieutenant this spring after his college graudation.

Goodin also shared his struggle with sending his son off to war on his first deployment. 

"How does a father send his son to war?" Goodin said he asked his son. 

His son's response: "Dad, this is my duty." 

Please enjoy our gallery of today's events.