Veterans Day

We just adore our evening custodian, Rick Emrick.  He's always been so sweet to Evangeline, and Jed too, when he sees him.  He's just such a special person.  He's a cattle farmer, circuit pastor, veteran and custodian....just an all around great man.

In October Rick retired.  Evangeline was devastated when she heard the news and on the day of his retirement party she cried and cried.  The Kindness Club made a big sign for Rick and he was so touched. 

A few weeks later Evangeline called Rick on the phone and asked him to be her special guest at the 5th grade Veteran's Day program that they do for the community.  Rick was happy to be there.  Evangeline was overjoyed.  It was so cute too, because Evangeline doesn't like to talk on the phone.  We had to practice her conversation a few times before she mustered up the courage to call him.  She was on Cloud 9 when she hung up. 

She made a Veterans Day card to present to him when he came to the program.  She is in the front row in the jean jacket.  The 5th grade sang the song of each branch of the military and anyone in the audience that served in that branch stood up for his/her song.

You can see Rick standing in the below picture....

As a special assignment, the kids also had to make some kind of physical presentation for the assembly to be displayed in the hallway.  Evangeline made a poster.  It has a picture of my grandpa Parsons in his military uniform and a copy of the letter my grandpa Walters received from the president thanking him for his service.