The Connection

Fairfax County — For about a third of the families at Sangster Elementary School in Burke, military and mobility is a way of life.

“Most people don’t know what military families do; it feels like moving every three years,” said sixth-grader Parker Smith of Burke. Veterans Day he said is also a “good day to recognize these people, who sacrifice their lives, and their families.”

Of the 970 students and 665 families at Sangster, which serves parts of Burke, Fairfax Station and Springfield, Principal Lisa Reddel said 175 families are associated with the school’s Military Spouses Group that welcomes newcomers and supports new to the area military families getting settled.

Reddel adds 242 students total are identified as part of a military family.

For Parker’s brother Warner, in fourth grade, another important part of Veterans Day is learning more about their country.

“One day, people my age will become great leaders,” he said, “and we couldn’t do that without knowing our history.”

The Smith boys were among several hundred Sangster students, parents, teachers and veterans to observe Veterans Day, Nov. 11, together at the school’s annual outdoor assembly.

Col. Jason Hayes, U.S. Army, gave a brief history of Veterans Day, beginning with President Woodrow Wilson’s declaring Nov. 11 in 1919 Armistice Day honoring American heroes who died while serving in World War I.

On June 1, 1954, Hayes said, Congress approved Nov. 11 as a day to remember and celebrate American veterans of all wars.

Capt. Jennifer Blazewick, U.S. Navy, recited the poem “I am the Flag” by Lawrence M Jones.

“I am a composite being of all the people of America; I am the union if you are united,” Blazewick began.

“I stand for greater and more glorious achievement than can be found in recorded history, but you must be my inspiration,” she read in conclusion.

Blazewick commented additionally: “Thank you to the children and teachers who welcome military kids, who’ve had to move every two years.

“And... military kids are just awesome,” Blazewick said.

The Sangster choir and handbells performed “On Veterans Day” by Karl Hitzemann, as well as the national anthem while the military personnel on hand raised the American Flag on the school’s flagpole.

Students in the crowd waved handheld flags while choir teacher Joie Verheul sang solo and conducted the choir in “God Bless America.”

Principal Reddel’s final message to students was to look beyond sports figures and animated characters for role models.

“We overlook the real heroes,” Reddel said. “If you want to know a real hero, get to know a veteran or someone currently serving in the military.”

Following the assembly, all Sangster students had that chance. At least one currently serving military member or veteran visited each classroom to share some of their experiences serving in the United States.

In Mrs. Char’s fifth grade class, (Ret.) Lt. Col. Chuck Albo of Springfield got oohs and aahs when he showed off his winter flight suit and passed around his helmet from serving aboard a B-47 bomber for Strategic Air Command.

Albo, father of Del. Dave Albo (R-42) and grandfather of Ben Albo in Char’s class, was active duty from 1958 to 1978.

He explained that during the Cold War, he and the crew with the B-47s needed to be ready to take off and drop nuclear bombs within five minutes.

“We had to be efficient,” Albo said.

Albo later flew B-66 bombers over north Vietnam, and then moved to KC-135 fuel tankers.

Also in Char’s class, Benjamin Hubert of Burke brought his father Col. Kevin Hubert to talk about his career in the U.S. Air Force.

Col. Hubert flew on the AC1-130 Spectre Gunship in Bosnia, Korea, Afghanistan from 1997-2004, then the MC130-H Talon II from 2004-2008 as an electronic warfare officer in Afghanistan, Iraq, Romania, Chad.

Hubert went on to work in squadron command and said he now does airplane purchasing for the military, based out of the Pentagon.

Hubert’s more modern helmet being passed around drew a flurry of questions about his skydiving training. He also quizzed the class on some Veterans Day trivia, prompting them to respond how it commemorates “The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month,” when World War I ended.

The colonel referenced his wife and son in the room, the latter he said was born overseas.

“I’ve had to move my family all over the place -- it’s tough on the families too,” Hubert said. “We need to remember [them.]”