Sunrise Drive Elementary Honors Military in Flag Day Celebration

Sunrise Drive Elementary School in the Sayville Union Free School District welcomed active-duty military members and veterans for a special Flag Day celebration. The day began with breakfast followed by a service awards presentation.

Sunrise Drive students and staff invited their family members, friends, and community members who are active or retired members of the United States military to be honored at the school. The heroes made their way through a tunnel of cheering students into the school’s courtyard—decorated in patriotic colors. Students ran to greet their loved ones and serve them coffee, juice, fruit, and pastries. Seated, the military members had the opportunity to get to know one another over a meal.

After breakfast, the honored guests were led into the cafeteria, where the entire student body and staff were gathered. The special ceremony began with Sunrise Drive’s kindergarteners singing a series of patriotic songs to their guests. Following this, principal Dr. James Foy delivered remarks and students introduced each of the six branches of the United States Military with short speeches. Each veteran in attendance was introduced by name and branch before being presented with a service award.

Dr. Foy continued the ceremony by announcing the names and branches of the school’s loved ones who are currently overseas. Service awards were then presented to Sunrise Drive’s students that have made a positive impact on the school community, including those with upstanding character and bus helpers.

“It is incredibly important to all of us here at Sunrise Drive to instill in our students a sense of gratitude and respect for our community’s heroes,” said Dr. James Foy. “Our Flag Day celebration is one of my favorite days of the year as we open our doors to those who fought for our country and give them an opportunity to share their stories.”

Sunrise Drive has been hosting its annual Flag Day celebration for close to two decades now. The event is hosted by the Sunrise Drive Student Council and their advisors, Mary Pat Holler and Keri Athan. This celebration comes less than a month after the school’s Memorial Day First Responder Parade, reinforcing Sunrise Drive’s culture of respect for community heroes.

For more information on the Sayville Union Free School District, visit the district’s website at sayvilleschools.org. Happenings in the district can also be found on the district’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/saydistrictpr. #CaringAndLearning