Kendall Elementary gathers around flagpole for annual Memorial Day observance

Provided photos

KENDALL – Students and staff at Kendall Elementary School gather around the flagpole in the front of the school on Thursday during the school’s annual Memorial Day observance.

The annual ceremony at the school began with students watching a 2-minute video created by our art teacher, Andy King. The video discusses the history of Memorial Day and differentiates it from Flag Day, Veteran’s Day, and the 4th of July.

“We strive to ensure that students understand and appreciate the true meaning behind this 3- or 4-day holiday weekend,” said Kevin Watson, the school principal. “During this video, students are instructed about the sounding of Taps, Taps-related etiquette (not wearing hats, not speaking, not clapping following the playing of Taps).”

This group plays Taps in the school’s front yard.

The students gather around the flag pole and Taps was played by a group of five musicians. That included two high school students – Leah Brundage and Savannah Stone; Kendall music teachers – Lindsey Chalmers and Josh Mantegna; and Board of Education trustee David Warren. The BOE member is part of Bugles Across America, a national organization that links bugle players up with miliary funerals.

Kendall also live streams the Changing of the Guard in an available room so that classes may stop by throughout the day and watch the ceremony.

The musicians playing Taps include, from left: Lindsey Chalmers, Savannah Stone, Leah Brundage, Joshua Mantegna and David Warren.