“Obviously, with what’s going on in our society, I feel the burden to make sure the next generation knows what it means to be an American citizen, and to honor our country, our veterans, our traditions,” says Atalla Elementary Principal Greg Edge. “It gives us some genuine curriculum that helps us tie in to what we’re already teaching.”
Today, 2nd and 5th grade students filled the Attalla Elementary gymnasium. After finishing 10 weeks in the Super Citizen Program, they are gathered to celebrate their accomplishments and honor local heroes from the stage.
These students have learned their important roles in America’s future thanks to an immersive experience in civics, character, financial literacy and social studies. And in the closing piece of the program, Torch Teams (or “Helping Hands” for the younger students), students are applying those crucial lessons in the real world. They chose heroes who embodied the traits of amazing citizens and read essays from stage before presenting them with Authentic Liberty Replicas & Liberty Pins. They learned that “when you honor a hero, you become a hero!”
One of today’s heroes, combat medic Sidney Allen Overby, praised the Super Citizen program and its effects on the students. “Other than family and God,” he said. “I can’t think of anything that’s as important as patriotism.”
See the Torch Teams & Helping Hands Heroes honored today in the photo gallery below!
Today’s event and the donation of Super Citizen teaching kits was made possible by the Etowah Community Alliance and passionate community sponsors. With its help, we are teaching, inspiring and empowering our Next Great Americans.
Were you at the event? See the photo gallery below to find yourself, to revisit the magic or watch it unfold for the first time >
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- Kennedy, Chuck, Parrish and Jamison led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance.
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- Joseph Gregorn was honored today by Malachi.
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- Jackie Harris was honored as a Helping Hand hero by Joel.
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- Charlie honored Ellen Paris as her Helping Hand hero.
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- Rick Correll was honored by his grandson Brandt.
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- Maddy honored her stepdad and hero Cameron Harris.
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- Wayne Dingler was honored by his grandson Connor.
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- Tim DeWese was honored as a Torch Team hero by Alexandra.
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- Ava honored her Pastor Earl Mitchell as her Torch Team hero.
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- Jodie Parrish was honored as Hunter’s Torch Team hero.
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- Ted Barnett was honored by his Granddaughter Shayna.
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- Lanie honored Allen Overby as her Torch Team hero.
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- Brandon, Miriam, JL, Qing, Emily, Hallee, Jaxson and Dre’Shan helped lead the crowd in the tour anthem “YOU in the USA”.
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- The Super Citizens stand together to take the Super Citizen Pledge.
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- The students pledge together that they will remember what they have learned and continue to be Super Citizens.
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- “Only you can keep the YOU in the USA.”
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- The students sing together about liberty and freedom.
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- The 2017 Attalla Elementary Helping Hand and Torch Team Heroes.
