Lincoln Public Schools students honored the contributions of American service members this week during a series of Veterans Day activities.
Elementary, middle and high school students welcomed distinguished guests to their classrooms, gyms, cafeterias and hallways. They held a parade for veterans at Cavett Elementary School, gave them handmade cards at Campbell Elementary School and played patriotic songs during an assembly at Lux Middle School.
Goodrich Middle School students like Aerianna discovered more about the long history of Native Americans in the United States military. The seventh grader listened to a presentation by LPS American Indian Education Coordinator Joe Rousseau, who enlisted in the U.S. Navy after graduating from high school in 1990. Rousseau’s grandfather served in an armored division of the U.S. Army during World War II, and his father served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War.
“I learned that it’s important to consider what veterans do, and especially what Native American veterans do for our country,” Aerianna said. “There are a lot more Native Americans that sign up to be veterans than we realize.”
Rousseau spoke to more than 20 members of the Goodrich Native American Club, which meets monthly in Cindy Wright’s classroom. The lesson took place during Native American Heritage Month in November.
Wright said it was important for students like Aerianna to discover how deep Native American roots are in the military. More than 10,000 American Indian men served overseas during World War I, and 10,000 women joined the Red Cross to support the war effort. Their sacrifices took place before American Indians were granted U.S. citizenship in June 1924.
There were 44,000 American Indians who served in World War II out of a total population of 350,000. Members of more than a dozen Native American nations were code talkers in both the Pacific and European combat theaters. That legacy continued in armed conflicts in both Korea and Vietnam. Approximately 10,000 American Indian soldiers fought on the Korean Peninsula and 42,000 Native Americans served in the Vietnam War.
Today, thousands of American Indians are members of the Armed Forces. Wright said it is essential to honor their contributions to society.
“Native Americans are not just part of history. Natives are here now,” Wright said. “We have over 1,000 students in LPS that identify. Teaching about Veterans Day within Native American Heritage Month is a great chance to help our students see that Natives are still fighting, whether it be for land, water or fishing rights, sovereignty or in the military.”
Rousseau shared about his time as a plane captain on the deck of aircraft carriers. He attended eight months of aviation electronics technician training before being stationed in Alameda, Calif. He told the Dragons that he acquired many leadership and organizational skills that he now uses to help LPS students.
“Most importantly, it gave me the self-discipline I needed,” Rousseau said. “It was the right fit for me.”
Similar lessons took place at Zeman Elementary School. The school displayed a Veterans Wall of Honor in the entrance window cabinet and shared daily facts about each military branch during morning announcements. The Zebras also listened to official songs of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and Space Force throughout the week.
Zeman became a hub of activity on Veterans Day. The Zebras placed mini flags along the main outdoor walkway, and the school set up a “Missing Man Table” to honor people who are currently listed as missing in action. The school also hosted its inaugural “Lunch With a Veteran” event. Veterans and active-duty family members were invited to eat lunch with students and share stories with them.
Zeman third grader Freyja said she was thrilled to have her grandparents Ryan Reynolds and Sherry Cash at her lunch table. She spent the previous 24 hours waiting with anticipation for them to come.
“I was very excited,” Freyja said. “Yesterday, I was like, ‘Tomorrow I would be able to see my grandparents again.’”
Zeman Executive Secretary Kathryn Claypool said that excitement from children was one reason the school started the new tradition. Students gave veterans many high fives and letters of appreciation, and Zebras like Freyja happily told their relatives how their school day was going.
“They just love to see their family members sitting with them at lunch,” Claypool said.
Veterans like Reynolds and Cash also reacted with delight. Reynolds served in the Army from 1982-99 and Cash served in the Army from 1989-92. They were familiar with the veterans-at-lunch setup, as they have attended similar events with their grandsons at other schools. They quickly circled the date on the calendar when they learned they could visit their granddaughter at Zeman.
“I think it’s great,” Reynolds said. “I think every year that this goes on, more and more veterans will show up.”
The Veterans Day week was personally meaningful to Claypool as well. She and her husband both compiled 35 years of service in the Nebraska Air National Guard before retiring in 2021. She was confident the same opportunities would continue at Zeman for many years to come.
“We’re going to continue this,” Claypool said. “I don’t even think we need to change much. We’re just going to keep this going every year, just because of the history we have of our families and our staff that have military members – past, future and current – so that we can just support them and appreciate them for their service.”
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