Photo By Marcy Sanchez | Students from Terrace Hills Middle School watch as Soldiers with William Beaumont Army...... read more read more
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English philosopher, Herbert Spencer, once said, “The great aim of education is not knowledge, but action.”
Over the past month, William Beaumont Army Medical Center’s Troop Command has engaged students at Terrace Hills Middle School (THMS) and placed them into action through WBAMC and THMS’s first ever Partners in Education (PIE) partnership.
The partnership offers students opportunities for mentorship, tutoring and special projects through Fort Bliss’ School Liaison Office and WBAMC.
The inaugural event for the partnership took place in front of THMS when the medical center’s color guard instructed students on proper handling and lowering of the U.S. flag, March 17.
“(The inaugural event) is a way to teach students the customs and courtesies associated with the flag and U.S. service members,” said Christopher Smith, principal, THMS. “If I taught students how to fold a flag it wouldn’t have the same impact as a service member in uniform coming and showing them.”
Smith, a U.S. Army veteran, was stationed at Fort Bliss in the mid-2000s and participated in his unit’s PIE partnership as a Soldier.
“I requested for a partnership because I know the benefits it brings to our students,” said Smith. “It’s one thing for educators to communicate with students; it’s another thing when Soldiers do it.”
The partnership provides shared benefits for Soldiers.
“In one visit, I could already see the benefits in enrolling my battalion in this program for both the Soldiers and the School,” said Lt. Col. Stacey Freeman, commander, Troop Command, WBAMC. “The interaction between the Soldiers, students, and faculty manufactured many emotions. I saw pride, admiration, acceptance, unity, understanding, and most of all, a mutual respect by all.”
In December 2015, Smith was assigned as the school’s principal and noticed the raising and lowering of the U.S. flag was not being performed properly. On behalf of the school, Smith requested to participate in the PIE program in order to promote patriotism and pride among his students.
“For most Americans and presumably the students, the U.S. flag represents freedom, pride, and justice,” said Freeman. “Same goes for Soldiers, but it encompasses so much more. For a deployed Soldier, especially, it represents home, patriotism, and a reminder of how great our nation is.”
In addition to learning the rules and regulations for the U.S. flag students were able to practice and perform a proper flag raising and lowering of the Texas state flag.
“It was eye-opening for the students,” said Smith.
According to Smith, select students will properly lower the flag every school day at 2:40 p.m. before they are dismissed for the day.
“I am truly looking forward to the impact this partnership will have on my Soldiers and THMS,” said Freeman.
For more information about PIE, contact the Fort Bliss School Liaison Office at 915-569-6064.
| Date Taken: | 04.11.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 04.11.2016 12:44 |
| Story ID: | 195019 |
| Location: | FORT BLISS, TX, US |
| Hometown: | EL PASO, TX, US |
| Web Views: | 61 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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