Idaho Falls middle-schoolers get a surprise visit from local veterans
Published at | Updated at
IDAHO FALLS — Students at Eagle Rock Middle School in Idaho Falls celebrated Veterans Day with a special presentation and a visit from local service members.
During each history class period, students met in the auditorium to watch a video of service members coming home to surprise their families.
Some students were surprised to see their own military family members greet them with a hug. Family members then shared their military experiences to students and answered questions.
Sam Cooley, seventh grade history teacher at Eagle Rock Middle School, got the idea after watching a service member reunion video online.
“I thought, ‘Is there some way we can get close to that feeling at the school?'” Cooley said.
He and the rest of the history team planned the event and got 16 veterans and service members to participate.
One was Brian Elton, a First sergeant in the 124th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron of the United States Air Force. He returned home Sunday from an assignment at Nellis Air Force base in Las Vegas, Nevada. He surprised his daughter at the presentation.
Elton says presentations like this help students without military parents understand what other students go through.
“I find it a privilege to be able to talk to the kids just so they have a better understanding of what it means to serve your country,” Elton said.
“I’m really grateful for what they did because they’re really awesome,” said 14-year-old student Audrey Jefferson.
Deah Smith also participated in the presentation. She is a retired First sergeant in the Wyoming Army National Guard and a mother. She was the first woman recruit in the Afton, Wyoming unit. She enjoyed seeing the students’ budding interest in military service.
“You can see the kids are interested in some of the specifics about how many jobs they can do,” Smith said.
Thirteen-year-old Hunter Camphouse is one of those students.
“I found it kind of inspiring and how they move around and stay and help with everybody,” Camphouse said.
Smith says it can be hard being a service member and a parent, but it is worth it.
“It seems daunting, as any parent, to get it done,” Smith said. “You build your community and your friends and family. They all help you. They help your kids and it really is worth it.”
Military service means a lot to those who participated in and planned the presentation.
“I love serving, not because of the accolades, but because I feel it a privilege to serve my country and it’s the opportunity to walk the walk,” Elton said.
“All of our veterans end up protecting the weak around the world,” Cooley said. “If we can’t agree on much as a country, we can agree on that.”
