Today, 2nd graders from Guntersville Elementary School filled their gymnasium. After finishing 10 weeks in the Hands on Liberty Program, they are gathered to celebrate their accomplishments and honor local heroes from the stage.
Thanks to Mr. Palmer and his very hands-on teaching, these students have begun learning about their important roles in America’s future. The “Hands on Liberty” series and accompanying activities and lesson plans teach crucial lessons in civics, character, financial literacy and social studies to a tech-centric generation. And in the closing piece of the program, Helping Hands, students are applying those crucial lessons in the real world. Students chose heroes who embodied the traits of amazing citizens and read essays from stage before presenting them with Liberty Pins. They learned that “when you honor a hero, you become a hero!”
See heroes honored and a glimpse of the exciting event in the gallery below!
Today’s event and the donation of Super Citizen teaching kits was made possible by the Marshall County Community Alliance. With their 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 >
- Showing off their Helping Hands Graduation Certificate!
- Guntersville Elementary students are becoming Super Citizens!
- These Guntersville Elementary 2nd grade students are excited to honor their heroes and get their Helping Hands graduation certificates!
- Lillie Grace and Matteo lead students, heroes, and guests in the Pledge of Allegiance!
- Pyper told us about her Helping Hands Hero: first grade teacher Mrs. Beth Kirkpatrick!
- 2nd grader Mollie Kate honored teacher Mary Burton as her Helping Hands Hero. Mr. Neely accepted the award on Ms. Putman’s behalf!
- Now it’s time for Guntersville Elementary 2nd graders to take their Helping Hands Pledge!
- These students placed their hands on their heart and promised to be a Super Citizen.
- Pledging to be a Helping Hand!
- Mr. Palmer himself led the students in their Helping Hands Pledge!
- Mr. Palmer says “you’ve gotta do good to be good,” and these students pledged to do just that.
- 2nd grade students pledged to “be responsible for what they say and do, in their country, community, family, and school.”
- Super Citizens lead everyone in our tour anthem.
- The students filled the room with their voices as they sang “YOU in the USA.”
- Only YOU can keep the “U” in the U.S.A.!
- “Freedom! Liberty! It starts with you and me!”
- Waving their flags in song and celebration!
- These students are singing our tour anthem loud and proud!
- We love seeing the students excited to sing along to our tour anthem!
- These students are excited to sing along to our tour anthem!
- Singing along to our tour anthem!
- Leading the crowd in song!
- “Freedom! Liberty! It starts with you and me!”
- Students and teachers alike singing along to our tour anthem!
- Waving their flags in song and celebration!
- We love seeing the students excited to sing along to our tour anthem!
- We are thankful to our heroes, guests, and everyone who made our event possible, especially GES principal John Doyle, teacher Alicia Keller, Monica Gramling from 1st Southern State Bank, and Director of Child Nutrition Julia Covington!


























