Lewis Cass elementary students honor local veterans

Nov. 10—Lewis Cass Elementary School students honored community veterans Thursday, Nov. 10, during a morning ceremony at in the high school auditorium.

Tech. Sgt. Lucille Reyna, author of the children's book, "A Soldier's Story," which tells about her experience serving in Mosul, Iraq in 2003, was the guest of honor.

The ceremony opened with Lewis Cass kindergarteners waving flags and singing "Grand Old Flag." Veterans entered the auditorium afterwards, some led by their young family members who attend the school

Fifth graders sang the National Anthem and performed songs during the ceremony, one which included solos from students Olivia VanWaardenburg, Macy McLaughlin and Camdyn Smith. A video also played, displaying photos of veterans in the Walton community.

Students and veterans stood at the closing of the ceremony to honor those lost serving the country with the playing of "Taps" and then joined together to sing Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA."

Before the event began veterans were able to gather together in the cafeteria and spend time with their loved ones.

"A Soldier's Life"

Tech. Sergeant Lucille Reyna was nervous before the ceremony began, waiting in the cafeteria with her young son and greeting those in attendance.

She started her career as a military police officer before moving to the Air Force Reserve. She is approaching retirement after 22 years of service.

She told students about her uniform and the different insignias on it. She also shared a story about the WW2 code talkers, Native Americans from the Navajo tribe who served and created a code system for the United States military that was never broken.

When Reyna was stationed in Iraq, her son's third grade class sent her a care package.

"Overseas, those care packages really do a lot to boost morale," she said. "I thought to myself that I would really like to do something for the kids."

So she wrote them a poem explaining what being overseas and serving in the military was like.

Nearly 20 years later, her daughter, Sienna Yvette Urbina, illustrated the poem and the duo published it as a book.

Urbina has gone on to paint murals in Logansport and Kokomo. She worked with a team of creators to paint the Science Project mural and recently completed a mural outside Sun King Brewery in Kokomo.

Reyna said she wanted the book to teach children about why soldiers had to leave sometimes, such as protecting their freedom. The book tells the story of a mother writing home to her children and also shares some of what Reyna experienced while in Iraq and the comradery that develops between soldiers.

The book was published by Westbow Press in September 2022.

On Friday, November 11, Reyna will read the book to students at Fairview and Franklin Elementary Schools.

"I feel very honored that I get to talk to kids and explain to them a very difficult topic," she said. "A lot of parents will teach their kids to say thank you for your service to people in uniform. It's important for kids to know that just because they are young it doesn't mean they can't have an impact in some way."

Grateful and honored

Lewis Cass Elementary School teacher was proud to see how the students came together to honor the veterans. The students lined the hallway leading to the exit, clapping for each veteran as they left the school.

"We want to make sure all grade levels understand the important role our military serves our great nation," she said. "This event was very powerful for everyone and we hope it leaves everyone feeling grateful and honored to be a part of the United States of America."

Chief Master Sgt. Tim Buffum was emotional as he exited Lewis Cass High School with his wife, Karen, after the ceremony.

"It was a wonderful program," he said, noting it was important to help children understand how important it was to honor veterans.

"I can't even get through the national anthem without crying," he said, pausing to collect himself. "It's been a great honor. It has been a great honor to serve in the military. I was in for 32 years. I started in the marines and went over to the air force."

Karen Buffum said that both she and her husband went to school at Lewis Cass. Their grandchildren, Ethan and Emily, are third generation students.

"It just makes it mean so much more," Tim Buffum said.