My children attend a Charter School in Draper, each of them from Kindergarten on. We've loved the experience they've had, and even though Charter Schools have been fairly controversial, the awards and commendations this school has received have spoken for themselves and we have always felt lucky for the level of educational focus they are receiving.

Yesterday was the Veterans' Day holiday. The school has always had a big Veterans' Day assembly, and I have never attended it. Yestrerday, as a last second decision, I decided to attend. I walked into the Gym right as the event was starting and figured I'd have no problem getting a seat. As I walked in I quickly realized I was wrong and had my first inclination what an event this was going to be.

The place was packed and there was standing room only. In the front they had family members and friends of families that were Veterans sitting together as honored guests. The Vets went as far back as WWII and were as recent as Operation Enduring Freedom. They deal started with a flag ceremony by a students that were boy scouts and the School's student body president led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance. Then everyone sang all verses of the Star Spangled Banner.

The assembly started and each grade was performing patriotic musical numbers or a patriotic Poem (Flanders Field) and in between the class presentations they had speakers that were amazing. They had one speaker that had enlisted in the military and had his convoy get attacked in Iraq. His truck was bombed and he was one of only a few to survive. He talked to these students about love of country and his feelings of duty. The students led a standing ovation as he finished and each of us as parents joined in.

However, the most moving part was when a mother stood and spoke. She was the wife of a fallen soldier that had 4 children attending this school. She gave a story to the students of what happened on September 11....and talked about her husband that was a "regular dad" with a "regular job" but on that day when he saw enemies of our country kill so many people and try to force us to change our lives he felt he needed to go do what the founders of our country did....defend the very idea of freedom.

She talked about his love for his country and how he had spent his life learning about our history and what had made us great, and why he felt he needed to enlist in the military to defend Freedom. In 2005 he was killed in a firefight with the Taliban. She then asked the students to never let enemies of freedom teach them that the flag doesn't matter, or to forget what made the country great. She encouraged the students to be patriotic and to honor those that had given all they had to make the country the best in the world. As she finished they had a video presentation set to music of this dad with his kids and this dad as a soldier, and this dad getting sent home in a box with a flag on it...and finally the military burying this soldier as the 4 children watched. There was not a dry eye. As it finished, they had the 4 children come to the front and be recognized. I watched these 4 children stand proudly by their mother and grandfather and had a different kind of appreciation than I have ever felt before. It was an unbelievable moment in time.

One class did a medley of all the military songs and as the song of the military was sung, the veterans from that branch of service were asked to stand. As the kids sang, all the other students would clap and cheer...these veterans were rock stars. After this was done they had each veteran in the room announced as he/she stood and they announced the name, branch of service, and war that they served in. Each Veteran was presented with a gift from the school that included a note from a student thanking them for what they did.

After the event, each class had a few veterans come speak to the classes and answer questions about their service and their love of country. My children came home excited to tell me about their meetings with these "heroes."

It was easily the best school event I have ever attended. I have always been greatful that my children were attending this school that has received amazing academic accolades. However, as I sat in that gym, I couldn't help but think that teaching Math, Reading, Spelling, etc is important, but there are lots of ways to accomplish that. It struck me that my children were taught something that day that was far more important. They were taught the importance of being a good citizen and in being mindful of how lucky we are to live in this country....how to never take it for granted, and to be appreciative of those that had come before us.

As I looked at the images that day, I kept thinking how odd it was that the current president of this country would have tried to stop such an event. He would not have participated in the flag ceremony and would not have appreciated the patriotic songs. I was struck that most schools don't even have a Pledge of Allegiance anymore.

This school is not concerned with politicians think or with what they try to do in their agendas. This school is committed to developing children that have outstanding academic abilities, but also have an awareness of civic duty. I wish every child had this kind of Perspective.

Thank you, American Preparatory Academy. I left that morning feeling better off for have attended. I only wish every school in the country had the kind of focus, committment, and courage that these leaders have.