Students from Covenant Christian School in Aurora made the holiday season a little brighter on Wednesday by visiting and singing at the Veterans Center in St. Charles.
For about 30 minutes, a musical program and other activities took place at the facility at 311 N. Second St. in front of an audience of more than 40 veterans who were recognized both in prayer and music throughout the event.
Pam Harper, a third- and fourth-grade teacher at Covenant Christian School, accompanied the students to the event and said beforehand this was the second year the school has brought youngsters to the center.
“Last year, we made Christmas cards and we sang and then we asked the guys there if we could pray over them as we’re a Christian school,” Harper explained. “I told all of them, ‘Don’t hesitate to tell the children you’d rather not have them pray over you,’ but everyone let the kids pray over them. Of course, we instructed them how to pray for the veterans so they were kind to them.
“This year, the kids are putting on a 15- to 20-minute program for them where they are going to sing and read Bible verses and just go and love on them,” she said.
Harper said she is currently in her 38th year of teaching at the school and the idea to visit the Veterans Center last year came from Jeff Glaser, a parent from Covenant Christian who is active reading to first- and second-graders.
“When we were in a different building, he’d help out fixing things. He’s a man who said he hangs out at the Veterans Center and could we get a field trip there,” she said. “The kids are so excited. My brother was a lifer in the Navy and I teach the children patriotism. We pray for the servicemen and women and we pray for our veterans every day before we start school. Last year, I let them know that we pray for you – we pray for those serving now as well as those that did.”
Glaser was beaming Wednesday as he looked over the crowd at the event.
“This is fabulous. The kids are great and so giving. They love to come here to the Veterans Center and share their stories with the veterans. It’s fabulous,” Glaser said just as the program began. “We have a vet here that is 101, and a couple that are 99 years old. These are World War II vets. We’re losing them every day but the kids get to meet them.”
Veterans like Charles Huske of St. Charles said he served in the Navy during the Vietnam War “and it’s wonderful to see the kids” at the program.
“To have the kids here, it’s always wonderful,” he said. “Being a Vietnam veteran, we weren’t treated exactly well when we came home, but I’m 81 now and the veterans are starting to get more recognition and I see it all over the country. I was one of the first ones in Vietnam back in ’64.”
Joe Morgan, commander of American Legion Post 342 in St. Charles, was at the event and noted how excited the crowd of veterans were.
“We might have nearly 50 guys here before this is over and to have the kids come out for them, it means a lot,” Morgan said. “It’s entertainment they normally don’t see. They get coffee and doughnuts and there’s the camaraderie. It’s great for these kids to do that.”
A total of just over 20 students performed during the program, and later passed out Christmas cards.
Eliana Smiewec, 10, of Geneva, said she sang at the event last year and that she “remembers praying over the veterans and remembering they were so happy and hearing all the stories.”
“It was so great. I’m happy to be back,” she said. “We do pray for the vets every day and they are so important to our nation. They fought to keep us free. I’m glad we’re here and hopefully making their Christmas brighter.”
Mason Banks, 10, of Westchester, said he also performed at the Veterans Center a year ago and remembers “praying for them and I gave away a lot of (Christmas) cards.”
“It’s important to cheer up the vets at Christmas because, sometimes, nobody notices them,” he said. “The fact these men fought for us, it makes me feel they care about us and they should be honored and respected.”
David Sharos is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
