King HS Remembers

Friday was the 12th annual King High Remembers event. Once again John Corona and his Social Science Department (along with LOTS of other helpers) put on a great event with our veterans (275 of them) from a variety of wars. It was again essentially a standing room only affair that took up the entire gymnasium and the adjoining multipurpose room.

This event is so critical as it provides King HS students with the unique opportunity to meet with veterans and hear their particular stories and quiz them about the details.

The King Remembers event is important for several reasons:

1. These veterans and their brothers in arms need to understand we appreciate them and their service.
2. Students need to understand what this is all about and the importance of military service to our freedom and way of life. They are prompted beyond this event to discuss the military and related experiences with their families and those close to the family that have served.
3. This event is important for our entire community to celebrate the service of these veterans as well as remind each other about the price of our American freedom and values.
4. From a recent book I was reading, at the end of World War II there was 1 out of 10 citizens ACTIVELY engaged in the military. Which essentially represented 1 of the tables (which holds 10 people) in the main gymnasium. That is what used to be. According to more recent data, we now have 1 ACTIVELY engaged in the military out of 221 citizens (essentially 22 tables in that same gymnasium). Needless to say, unless we use a method like King HS Remembers, we forget what is involved in our freedom and the specific price involved AND our students/youth truly don't understand.

Thank you John, thank you King HS, thank you Riverside for helping us remember and learn on Friday.