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(Mike McMahon speaks to Northside Elementary students as his daughter,
Rachel, models the helmet he wore as an Air Force pilot.)

Students honor veterans

Schools across Coweta County honored men and women who have served in America’s armed forces on Veteran’s Day.

At Northside Elementary School, over 60 veterans attended a 9 a.m. ceremony which included a presentation of the flag, patriotic songs from the Northside Chorus, and a naming of the veterans present.ÊStudents cheered the special guests, and a slide show that included “then” and ‘now” pictures of veterans who served in World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War and other conflicts.

Loud cheers came up from the crowd of elementary students when a picture of an eagle, Northside’s mascot, was shown.ÊStudent Chevy Narramore began the ceremony by bearing in the flag, followed by the attending veterans.Ê

Student Allison Booth reminded the assembled students that a “strong military is necessary to fight for our rights and freedom ... This is why we celebrate Veteran’s Day.”

Student Suzanne Turner read a special Veteran’s Day message form President George W. Bush.

Northside parent Mike McMahon spoke to the students, and asked his daughter, kindergartner Rachel McMahon, to join him and model the special helmet he wore when he served as an Air Force pilot.

The 20-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force recalled the words of British prime Minister Winston Churchill, when he warned his countrymen that to “dwell upon the horrors of war” as the best way to ensure that war are avoided does not answer the question of “how it would help if we were invaded ourselves.”

McMahon described the rigors of training and service in the military, and even showed the students a movie of himself being subjected to 8 “g’s” of force in a pilot’s centrifuge.

Why do young men and women volunteer for military service and put up with difficult training, he asked the students.

“We do it for you,” he said. “Each generation, it seems to me, if faced with a challenge, and my guess is that your generation will be faced with a challenge, too.”

McMahon said the students can face any kind of challenge if they stay unified as Americans.