Major Dearl Belue, a Vietnam veteran and member of the Civil Air Patrol was honored by students today. “It was awesome,” he says. “I love these kids and I appreciate them honoring me today. I hope they learn to love their country and honor their citizens and become great citizens themselves. And I believe they will!”
Today, more than 200 students filled the Lauderdale County High School 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 civic, 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!”
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 Lauderdale County Community Alliance and passionate community sponsors. With their help, we are teaching, inspiring and empowering our Next Great Americans.
Did you see today’s event? Were you as emotional as we were? Will you help us continue this amazing mission?
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- These Lauderdale County 2nd and 5th graders are excited to graduate!
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- Smiling faces of Super Citizens!
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- Our Next Great Americans!
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- Principal Sheri Matthews welcomed students and began the Super Citizen Celebration.
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- Griggs Webster, Caley Clark, Natalie Vasques and Linda Laurence lead the Pledge of Allegiance.
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- Curtis honored his great-grandfather, James McCartney, World War II veteran, as Helping Hands Hero.
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- Pastor Pat Driskell was honored as Helping Hands Hero by Collin and Parker. “It felt good because I value the opinion of children over anybody,” says Driskell. “And I’m really grateful to them. Whether they know it or not they have learned something that will change their lives because of the enthusiasm they felt. It’s a result of a spirit that will lead the in the ways they should go.”
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- Danielle honored Logan Whitworth, currently serving in the military, as Torch Team Hero. His sister, Bailee, accepted the award on his behalf.
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- Jimmy Blackburn was honored as Torch Team Hero by his granddaughter Laura.
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- Jimmy Downs was honored as Torch Team Hero by Libby. ” … because of what they did today, in my eyes, they are heroes,” says Downs.
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- Paxton honored Pastor Chuck Hood as Torch Team Hero. Kelli Dodd of the Liberty Learning Foundation accepted the award on his behalf.
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- Dearl Belue was honored by his grandson, Caden, for his service in the U.S. Airforce.
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- Connie Fuqua was honored as Helping Hands Hero by Leah and Skylah.
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- Madison honored World War II veteran Hulon Newton as Helping Hands Hero.
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- These Super Citizens celebrate in song!
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- Singing our Next Great Americans anthem!
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- Kane honored Hunter Rapp as Torch Team Hero. Kelli Dodd from the Liberty Learning Foundation accepted the award.
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- ICU nurse Kristi Shaffer was honored as Torch Team Hero by her daughter, Makenna.
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- Our Helping Hands and Torch Team Heroes and the students who honored them.
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- Students are loud and proud at graduation!
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- Singing for Liberty!
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- Only “you” can keep the “you” in the U.S.A.!
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- Super Citizens sing the song with enthusiasm!
