Lucerne Valley school district recognizes employees who served in the military
Lucerne Valley Unified School District recognized a group of district employees who served in the U.S. military, ahead of Veterans Day.
Last month, Lucerne Valley school district trustees approved a $1,000 annual stipend to all district employees who have served in the military. Nine district employees were honored during Thursday's ceremony at the Sgt. Brian Walker Memorial Gymnasium
The gym was named in memory of 2005 Lucerne Valley High School graduate Brian Walker.
The 25-year-old man died on May 13, 2012, after his vehicle hit an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan while serving during Operation Enduring Freedom.
“Remember, Brian Walker was a student just like you,” longtime teacher and current Lucerne Valley Teachers Association President Cindy Lazenby told the audience. “He was an athlete. He was funny. He had dreams just like you.”
Supporting Lucerne Valley veterans
During the ceremony, keynote speaker 34th District Assemblyman Tom Lackey shared thoughts on the country’s challenges and called the district’s commitment to veterans “remarkable.”
Longtime school board trustee Tom Courtney, who served in the U.S. Navy from 1968 to 1972, spoke of the importance of honoring our veterans.
“These people served our country, and now they serve our school district,” Courtney said. “We need that kind of leadership in schools today. They know that freedoms are not free.”
District employees receiving special recognition included:
Middle/high school counselor Kevin Barda (California Army National Guard, 1991-1994).
Middle school teacher Gary Cope (U.S. Marine Corps, 1995-2000).
Maintenance and operations staff member Mark Hart (U.S. Army, 1985-1990).
Elementary school teacher Sheri Immel (U.S. Air Force, 1991-1995).
Middle high school teacher/Rangers instructor Jacob Klinger (U.S. Army, 2005-2010).
Elementary school teacher Christen Latour (U.S. Navy, 2004-2006).
Middle high school teacher Louis Madrid (U.S. Marine Corps 2010-2014).
Middle high school Principal Jason Story (U.S. Navy, 1993-1994).
Transportation staff member Larry Kennedy (U.S. Air Force, 2003-2005).
“To see this come to fruition would be incredible,” Superintendent Peter Livingston said. “We need to support our veterans who have served our country. These are people who should be helping to build values in our next generation."
Veteran task group
Courtney and a group of school board members and educators from 15 districts in California, Nevada, Oregon and New York shared ideas on how school district could honor veterans.
Courtney then presented the proposal of providing Lucerne Valley district employees, who served in the military, with a $1,000 stipend.
“Our dream is to bring our veterans back into our classrooms, maintenance, bus drivers, custodians, management, and all areas of our district,” Courtney says. “These folks served our country and now deserve our respect and acceptance back into our communities with the honor they deserve.”
Livingston shared how he would like to see a pipeline where veterans could have a job when they leave the military working in Lucerne Valley schools.
“It could be a welder, a mechanic, a teacher, or an administrator,” Livingston said. “Our veterans have served our country and deserved to be supported.”
Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at 760-951-6227 or RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on Twitter @DP_ReneDeLaCruz
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Lucerne Valley school district honors employees who are veterans
