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Community Corner

BHS Students on Valentines Day

BHS STUDENTS
BRIGHTEN UP VETERANS’ VALENTINE’S DAY

In continuing a fairly
new tradition, over 30 Brentwood High School students from STUCO and Diversity
Club brightened Valentine’s Day for many veterans at the Jefferson Barracks
Veterans Center on February 14, 2012. This was the second year in a row for the
visit and it would appear that a strong bond and future working relationship
between the high school and the Veterans center are now established.

“I used to bring 8th
graders here on Valentine’s Day when I taught in Clayton and it was always such
a moving experience.” said Diversity Club sponsor, Ed Wright. “It’s become even
more powerful with high school students here in Brentwood.” STUCO sponsor,
Kelly Javier, agreed. “Watching our kids interact and jump right in to help
these veterans today kept me smiling the whole time.”

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Students arrived around
10 am and were immediately assigned tasks by the energetic volunteers
coordinator, “Rocky” Buchanan. It was a “National Salute to Veterans”
celebration and there was plenty to do—distribute valentines, pass out souvenir
hats and beads, serve meals and drinks, guide the veterans to their tables, and
just sit and talk with them. Many of the students went to the hospital wards
and escorted the veterans to the celebration. This exposed the students to a
variety of challenging physical and emotional conditions and had a deep impact.

STUCO president, Sean
Koster, was especially active and involved with some of the vets. “It was
amazing to talk with them and to know that we were adding some joy to their
day. I think we all felt good about it.” Other students were able to get some
of the vets up dancing. Mariah Logan was the ringleader. “The music was good
and you could see some of them already moving a little in their seats. It just
came naturally to ask them out on the floor.”

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State qualifying
wrestlers, Tyler Jones and David Rivera, led the audience in the pledge of
allegiance. “I was a bit nervous at first”, Tyler admitted, “but then the
emotion of the moment kind of took over.”

The adults and students
committed to finding more ways to unite the school and the veterans. There was
talk of volunteering at other parties and maybe even having the school
basketball teams put on an exhibition for the vets. “Of course, we could take
them down.” Rocky commented.

At the end of the day,
everyone felt good about what they had been able to do while appreciating the
sacrifice and dedication of the men and women veterans they met. “You young
people have brought hope to these veterans today. Don’t forget them.”Rocky
concluded. It’s apparent that none of the students will forget.

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