'SAES students of Ms. Lowder's 2nd grade class marches down Eighth Army Drive of USAG Yongsan, as a part of the 'Miles for Heroes', Memorial Day observance. All classes from the Seoul American Elementary School each chose a hero and 'walked a mile' honoring the fallen veterans who have died trying to save the country - the heroes that allowed us the freedom that we bask in today, May 20, 2015, here, USAG Yongsan. (U.S. Army Photos by Cpl. Yi Jung Uk)'
YONGSAN GARRISON — We all have our personal heroes. Parents, teachers, mentors… the people that have inspired us, the people that sacrificed themselves to allow us to become the person that we are today. This Memorial Day, to the Seoul American Elementary School (SAES) students, their heroes were the 14 fallen soldiers who sacrificed themselves for the sake of the nation’s freedom.
“Miles for Heroes” celebrated its 4th anniversary at May 20, here, in USAG Yongsan. The event, as a Memorial Day observance, recognizes our heroes in the eyes of elementary school students. The ceremony allows all participants the time to honor the fallen soldiers and remember their ultimate sacrifice – risking their lives for the sake of the freedom that we bask in today. Classes from SAES have each chosen one hero to remember and recognize during the day’s ceremony.
The observance began with paying respect to the national flag of both the Republic of Korea and the United States. The National Anthems of the two countries were performed by the 2nd grade students, who also carried on to the Pledge of Allegiance.
Representatives of the classes, introduced by the school’s student representatives, shared with the service members and all the participants the stories of their class ‘heroes’.
These ‘Heroes’ of the SAES students consisted of 14 individuals from the Army, Navy, Marines and Air Force. From Private First Class to Lieutenant Colonel, they all varied in ranks, services and how they gave their all to the nation. Each fallen soldier has been introduced with a brief biography, and what were the qualities that made them a hero, a true keeper of freedom. All individuals who sacrificed their lives for the country deserve the same amount of respect, but there was one special soldier who had a story that he could share through his surviving heart.
Summer Norman, daughter of Army Cpt. Michael A. Norman, remembered her father who died January 31, 2008 while serving during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
“Today we’re choosing a hero and honoring them by giving speeches. I’m honoring my father today. I feel proud that I’m the daughter of a hero that sacrificed his life (for the country), and I feel that we are free, thanks to him.”
The special speech was followed by a heart-warming Memorial Day speech by the guest speaker, Eighth Army chief of staff, Col. Tommy R. Mize, introduced by his daughter who attends SAES.
“One way to honor our fallen heroes is by ceremonies like this one today and those on Memorial Day in which we remember their sacrifice,” said Mize. He takes an example from the movie ‘Saving Private Ryan’. “In the movie mortally wounded Captain John H. Miller whispers his last words into Private James Ryan's ears: ‘Earn this.’”
“Each Veteran who has served in time of war has our own CPT Miller. Heroes we remember each and every day and attempt to honor in the way we live our lives in a manner to “earn” what they have done for us,” said Mize.
The SAES students went a step further to remember the veterans; students from all grades shared the songs that recognized the hearts of the little patriots. 4th and 5th grade students sang ‘This is my Country’, 3rd grade students ‘America the Beautiful’, 2nd grade students ‘Thank you, Soldier’, and the 1st graders, ‘Proud to be an American.’
The observance ended with the actual ‘Miles for Heroes.’ All SAES students gathered up in front of the Eighth Army Drive of USAG Yongsan to ‘walk a mile’ from the Seoul American High School (SAHS) field to SAES. On their way they each held up high the placards of their class names and their fourteen heroes.
“The best way we honor them is by living our lives in a manner to “earn” what they’ve given us. We honor them by being good American citizens; (…) and we honor them by teaching our children about the freedoms they enjoy and to remember and understand the sacrifices fallen service members made for all of us. We strive each and every day to “earn” what these American Heroes have given to us. That is how we remember and honor the sacrifices of our fallen heroes, and that is what Memorial Day is about.” Said Mize.
