Waynewood Patriots Day Ceremony Celebrates Civic Service, Honor

Before a group of students, George Washington said he had been nervous to admit to his father that it was him who had chopped the cherry tree centuries ago.

“How many of you when you do something wrong hope nobody will notice?” he asked.

Dozens of kids raised their hands. A few adults did too. But ‘Washington’ said his father appreciated his honesty.

“We can always replace the broken tree, but you and I can never replace a broken trust,”  he recalled his father saying.  The nation’s first president said the incident was a lesson for a true patriot.

George Washington, as played by James ‘States’ Manship, was just one of many community figures who described the importance patriotism to Waynewood Elementary school students Tuesday morning.

Coinciding with Flag Day, the school’s second annual Patriots Day Celebration recognized the efforts of local politicians, law enforcement officers and those that have served or currently serve in the military.

In between speeches from noted community figures, students shared essays and sung songs like “This Land is Your Land, This Land is My Land” and “God Bless America.”

 Abraham Lincoln, popped into the celebration to share with students the importance of some of the nation’s most patriotic documents, such as the Gettysburg Address and the Declaration of Independence.

“These rights are with us today,” he said of the latter document.

Supervisor Gerry Hyland recognized ordinary ‘patriots’ who serve and protect Mount Vernon residents on a regular basis.

“We have people in our community who are patriots because they work day in and day out [to serve the community],” he said.

Behind him hung a large paper flag, featuring small handprints to illustrate the red stripes. More student writings and artwork about patriotic topics lined the walls of the gymnasium and spilled into the hallway as well.

Delegate Scott Surovell gave students a brief history lesson about the role Virginia played in some of the country’s most important events.

“Virginia is the real home of our country in a lot of ways,” he said.

Many community figures mentioned how their own desire to serve residents was deeply rooted in their experience at Waynewood Elementary school.

“The seeds of my future career were planted right here in this school,” said Officer Greg Kotterman.

Still, several speakers told the students that becoming a patriot doesn’t have to wait until adulthood, even kids can take on the qualities of a good civic servant.

“To be a good patriot is to be selfless to help one another to support one another and that’s what we want to do as a school,” said principal James Meier.