Elementary school students gained a new appreciation for veterans who visited their classrooms to share stories and answer questions. Two teams of veterans fanned out to visit four Edgefield County schools over a three-day period during the week of April 21-25, 2025. Members of American Legion Post 30 in Edgefield read aloud from books like What is a Veteran, Anyway?, What Does It Mean to Be an American?, and Veterans: Heroes in Our Neighborhoods, transporting kids to the world of military service and sacrifice.
Across the four schools, the students were eager to share their own real-life knowledge of or experience with veterans in their own family or neighborhoods. Hands shot into the air as the teams began reading, with students excited to ask questions or share their comments. The students were enthralled with the stories but within 15 minutes they were wiggling as kids do when compelled to sit. These lively interactions set the stage for a series of inspiring visits as the teams shared their stories.
On April 21, 2025, Adjutant Jane Doolittle and Commander Winston Boddie visited with 1st grade students at W.E. Parker Elementary. Adjutant Doolittle greeted each student with a handshake, sensing their eagerness to learn. As she settled into her chair, students buzzed with excitement as they gathered on the floor around her. In a similar experience to veterans the students recounted eating MREs after Hurricane Helene, describing how they “squished” the bags to warm them. From peanut butter and crackers to spaghetti, some loved the taste, others not so much. Commander Boddie shared that once they reached the 4th and 5th grade, they could volunteer for the school’s flag detail, learning to raise, lower, and fold the American Flag.
Commander Boddie and Adjutant Doolittle spent time with 2nd graders at Merriwether Elementary on April 23, 2025. Upon arriving, the students, who were lined up outside the classroom, enthusiastically entered and took their predetermined seats on the floor. When quizzed they showed impressive knowledge of the U.S. services, naming all but one military branch, the Space Force. When Commander Boddie read that deployed soldiers often take cold showers from a “water buffalo” tank, one student shouted, “I take cold showers!”
On April 25, 2025, Chaplain William Beaver, an active-duty U.S. Army chaplain at Fort Eisenhower, and his father-in-law, Legionnaire Dr. Bruce Mears, a Marine and Vietnam Veteran, spent time at Johnston Elementary and Wardlaw Academy. Chaplain Beaver wore his duty uniform and combat vest and helmet, allowing students at both schools to try on the gear as he taught them that men and women can serve in all sorts of jobs in the military. The children were taught that nobody wants war, but someone in America must volunteer to defend the freedoms we enjoy. Dr. Mears showed pictures of his helicopter and the dog who went to war with him, teaching students that animals can also be veterans. At Wardlaw Academy the student’s curiosity shone through with questions like, “What is war?” “Do our soldiers get in lines to fight these days?” “When you went to war, did you ever put a bomb inside of a large rat and throw it in where the enemy was?”. The questions led to animated discussions with Chaplain Beaver and Dr. Mears that captivated the students.
Before the teams departed, students rushed forward with hugs all around. In total, the teams connected with almost 100 students, giving each a Post 30 goody bag filled with a patriotic comic book, an America the Beautiful coloring book, and crayons. We want to thank the schools and teachers for welcoming us into their classrooms. It was a privilege to engage with the students and we look forward to returning next year.
Article written by Winston Boddie, Jane Doolittle, and William Beaver. Photos taken by Winston Boddie, Diane Peterson, William Beaver, and Bruce Mears