Students fly the flag for forces

Harbour View kids write letters to soldiers in a Valentine’s Day tribute to troops.Harbour View Elementary students took a few moments Friday to reflect on what it means to be an American.

Every month, the school holds a flag-raising assembly out front. This tradition started after 9/11, the same time the school changed its official school colors from blue and gold to red, white and blue.

The students -- most of them wearing red, white and blue -- gather by the flagpole and recite the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by a heartwarming rendition of “Proud to be an American” as all of them wave miniature flags.

This month, students were joined by special visitors -- Huntington Beach Mayor David Sullivan and veterans from American Legion Huntington Beach Post 133, Frank Prusa and Dennis Bauer, along with Bauer’s wife, Tina Bauer.

Prusa wanted to thank the students for making hundreds of special Valentine’s Day cards, which were mailed on Wednesday to troops serving overseas along with hundreds more cards made by local Girl Scout troops.

“They’re in a very scary place doing a tough job for all of us,” Sullivan told the students. “And I know you all appreciate that.”

Harbour View students also wrote letters and put together packages for soldiers before the Christmas holidays. Dennis Bauer read aloud some of the response letters from soldiers so the students could hear how much those little gifts and cards can mean.

“Being over here makes me appreciate being an American and a soldier,” one of the soldiers wrote, urging children to keep in mind how lucky they are to live in the United States. “Do your part by doing good in school and being good to everyone around you.”

It gets very lonely being overseas, away from family and friends, Bauer said.

“To get something like [the Valentine’s Day cards] makes you feel like someone’s thinking about you,” he said. “I just wanted to thank the kids because it’s so important. It will really be wellreceived. It’s lonely over there.”

Post 133 has a program called Veterans in the Classroom in which local veterans visit schools and talk to the students about patriotism and being a good American. They also share their experiences about serving in a war.

Principal Roni Lee Ellis said they’ll continue holding monthly patriotic assemblies as long as she’s at Harbour View.

“It’s become part of the community,” she said, adding that many parents and neighbors join in. “Our local veterans love the idea that we honor the veterans and soldiers. They are valued.”

The mood at Friday’s flag-raisings was indescribable, Tina Bauer said.

“It puts tears in your eyes when you see kids waving the flags and singing,” she said.

* LINDSAY SANDHAM covers education and public safety. She can be reached at (714) 966-4625 or [email protected].