On the “eleventh day of the eleventh month at the eleventh hour,” Madison Academy (MA) and Madison Campus Elementary (MCE) held a Veterans Day Parade to honor the men and women who so nobly served or are currently serving this great country. This year’s event was different, but a safe and effective way to say “Thank You” to the heroes and the families of those in the Armed Forces.
The parade began at the Madison Campus Church’s Pathfinder building where the drivers were met and organized by Ken Wetmore, pastor; Jeff Fisher, U.S. Army Chaplain (Ret.); and Tonya Hancock, Metro Nashville District 9 Councilor. The short route extended up Academy Road and around Sutherland Drive’s circle. Students and staff, dressed in red, white, and blue, hoisted flags, shook banners, and even handed-out poppies.
The real stars of the day were the veterans and their families who, from the safety of their cars, waved and smiled as they drove through the avenue of applauding children. Several drivers had taped names and/or pictures to their windows and were honoring veterans who could not be present. The “In Remembrance” car listed names of local servicemen who have died in the last several years, including three WWII veterans.
Master Sergeant Leon Crayton, U.S. Air Force, who served as a Tuskegee Airman for 31 years, attended the parade from his home in Alabama. His proud son, Maurice Crayton, drove in the parade with his phone on Facetime to represent him and honor those who defend the country.
MCE and MA consider it a privilege and a responsibility to honor veterans. This special event provides both a way to thank them, and an opportunity to learn a little history outside the traditional classroom. The little Madison parade was short, but important — small, but powerful.
Kentucky-Tennesee | January 2021
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