Today, 2nd graders from Memorial Park 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 Walker 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 >
- Patton and Luke lead students, heroes, and guests in the Pledge of Allegiance!
- 2nd grader Lex took the stage to tell us about his Helping Hands Hero, Jasper police officer and his dad, Chuck Henderson!
- This group of students were so “ant-sy” to tell about their hero, that they wrote a poem about him!
- Ehren, Parker Kate, Eli, Maggie, and Levi honored beloved pest control man Mark Herron as their class Helping Hands Hero!
- Owen told us all about how his Helping Hands Hero, Representative Matt Woods, inspires his class to be Super Citizens!
- Mr. Palmer says “you’ve gotta do good to be good,” and these students pledged to do just that.
- These Memorial Park 2nd grade students are excited to honor their heroes and get their Helping Hands graduation certificates!
- Super Citizens lead everyone in our tour anthem.
- The students filled the room with their voices as they sang “YOU in the USA.”
- Leading the crowd in song!
- Only YOU can keep the “U” in the U.S.A.!
- These students are excited to sing along to our tour anthem!
- Leading the crowd in song!
- “Freedom! Liberty! It starts with you and me!”
- These students are singing our tour anthem loud and proud!
- We love seeing the students excited to sing along to our tour anthem!
- We love seeing the students excited to sing along to our tour anthem!
- Students and teachers alike singing along to our tour anthem!
- Singing along to 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.!
- We are thankful to our heroes, guests, and everyone who made our event possible, especially Principal Eric Rigsby, Superintendent Dr. Ann Jackson, Assistant Principal Dr. Cammie Channel, Mark Herron, Rep Matt Woods, Officer Chuck Henderson, Pauletta Windham and Andrew Lawhorn of the Walker Area Community Foundation, and Coach Harding! Thank you for a wonderful Celebration





















