Kolda Elementary School celebrates veterans and military families
At Kolda Elementary School, 88 students — almost a tenth of the student population — have a parent serving active duty in the military. Numerous others have family connections to veterans.
Monday morning, the school cafeteria was full of students, families and veterans, gathered to celebrate Veterans Day, the 10th anniversary of the school and its recent designation as a Purple Star campus.
Children sat with their families in the red, white and blue cafeteria. As each branch of the U.S. Armed Forces was called, family members stood to be honored. It was a fitting event at a school named for a local veteran. Marine Cpl. Zachary Kolda, who attended King High School, died in 2004.
"Ten years ago, our elementary school opened its doors and we have been proudly educating and serving our students and families ever since," Principal Shea Hernandez said. "We work daily to teach and embody the characteristics that were set forth by Marine Cpl. Zach Kolda — knowledge, service and character."
Friends and family of the school's namesake attended the event. His mother, Paula Smith, and friend and fellow Marine Capt. Adelfino Palacios spoke.
"I've heard it said that we die twice," Smith said. "We die when we leave this earth and we die the last time someone says our name. I'm so grateful that Zachary Kolda's name will be spoken and seen by generations to come."
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Palacios said that Veterans Day honors those who protect freedoms in America.
"As Americans, one of those critical freedoms is being able to attend school," Palacios said. "Every single American can get an education."
Palacios encouraged the students to value their education by putting effort into getting good grades, respecting their teachers and asking for help if they need it.
At Kolda, there are other signs of the school's connections to the military beyond the name. The cafeteria is painted in red, white and blue. Members of Marine Aviation Training Support Group 22 often visit the school. They participated in a flag-raising ceremony at the start of the year, served as volunteer judges at a school fall festival and join the school's running club every weekend.
To help serve its military families, Kolda Elementary School has a military and family life counselor. On Monday, the school celebrated its designation as a Purple Star campus, a state program that honors schools that support military-connected families.
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In Corpus Christi ISD, Veterans Memorial High School is also a Purple Star campus. All of the schools in neighboring Flour Bluff ISD also have the designation.
Corpus Christi ISD Superintendent Roland Hernandez said the district intends to pursue the designation for additional schools, serving military families.
"It is our small way of serving those who serve our nation," he said.
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Board of trustees President Janie Bell also spoke, sharing her own connections with the military. Travis Air Force Base in California is named for her grandfather, Brig. Gen. Robert Falligant Travis, who served in World War II. Her father also served in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II and the Korean War.
"I share this to underscore my deep respect for military service and for those who choose to shoulder the great responsibility," Bell said.
This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Kolda Elementary School celebrates veterans and military families
