l Veterans honOr teacher" » L JoENtcNoLsoN / The Herald Stephen Brown (left) and Robert Weslander, members of Sno-Klng Chapter 423 of the Vietnam Veterans of America, salute Monte Cristo Elementary School teacher Debra Howell as she is presented with the group's Glen A. Wllllams Award on Wednesday. Granite Falls assembly becomes educator’s tribute BY ERIC STEVICK Herald Writer GRANITE FALLS —A Memo- rial Day assembly at a Granite Falls elementary school became a tribute Wednesday to an un- suspecting teacher who helped hundreds ofVietnamWar veter- ans heal painful memories. Debra Howell, a teacher at Monte Cristo Elementary School, played a major role in organizing the schoolwide gath- ering, but had no idea it would be in her honor. The assembly had a little bit of ‘ everything red, white and blue, including color~ coordinated students and faculty. Six student flun'sts played the national anthem, and there was a Navy color guard, student ac- tors depicting George Washing- ton and Francis Scott Key, a his— tory lesson on the origins of Memorial Day, and fourth- graders singing “Standing Up for America.” Students gave medals to vet— erans and members of the tary and their families. Don Richardson, a father serving aboard the Everett- based aircraft canier USS Abra- ham Lincoln, said thank you to the children who gave him an impromptu standing ovation in the lunchroom when he visited his son at the school. Veterans shared memories fromWorldWar II andVietnarn. And the Blackjack Squadron, an Arlington-based group of pilots who fly experimental aircraft in formation, performed a flyover. Then the veterans turned the tables on Howell. “You are the victim ofwhat we in the military call a major league gotcha," said Doug Tolmie, a rural lake Stevens res- ident who served in the Navy during the Vietname. The Sno»King chapter otViet- nam Veterans of America pre- sented Howell with its Glen A See TEACHER, back page, this section “For the first time in along time, veterans were made to feel proud.” DougTolmle, Vietnam veteran 6_/03 , Author: , Accession/Object ID: 2005.172.1, Object Name: Newspaper, Title: , Description: "Veterans honor teacher"-Stephen Brown, left, and Robert Weslander, member of Sno-King Chaper 423 of the Vietnam Veterans of America, salute Monte Cristo Elementary School teacher Debra Howell as she is presented with the group's Glen A. Williams Award on Wednesday. [0d] [0a] (There is another article on this event in folder), OCR Text: l Veterans honOr teacher" » L JoENtcNoLsoN / The Herald Stephen Brown (left) and Robert Weslander, members of Sno-Klng Chapter 423 of the Vietnam Veterans of America, salute Monte Cristo Elementary School teacher Debra Howell as she is presented with the group's Glen A. Wllllams Award on Wednesday. Granite Falls assembly becomes educator’s tribute BY ERIC STEVICK Herald Writer GRANITE FALLS —A Memo- rial Day assembly at a Granite Falls elementary school became a tribute Wednesday to an un- suspecting teacher who helped hundreds ofVietnamWar veter- ans heal painful memories. Debra Howell, a teacher at Monte Cristo Elementary School, played a major role in organizing the schoolwide gath- ering, but had no idea it would be in her honor. The assembly had a little bit of ‘ everything red, white and blue, including color~ coordinated students and faculty. Six student flun'sts played the national anthem, and there was a Navy color guard, student ac- tors depicting George Washing- ton and Francis Scott Key, a his— tory lesson on the origins of Memorial Day, and fourth- graders singing “Standing Up for America.” Students gave medals to vet— erans and members of the tary and their families. Don Richardson, a father serving aboard the Everett- based aircraft canier USS Abra- ham Lincoln, said thank you to the children who gave him an impromptu standing ovation in the lunchroom when he visited his son at the school. Veterans shared memories fromWorldWar II andVietnarn. And the Blackjack Squadron, an Arlington-based group of pilots who fly experimental aircraft in formation, performed a flyover. Then the veterans turned the tables on Howell. “You are the victim ofwhat we in the military call a major league gotcha," said Doug Tolmie, a rural lake Stevens res- ident who served in the Navy during the Vietname. The Sno»King chapter otViet- nam Veterans of America pre- sented Howell with its Glen A See TEACHER, back page, this section “For the first time in along time, veterans were made to feel proud.” DougTolmle, Vietnam veteran 6_/03 , Granite Falls Historical Society,Documents (articles, clippings, letters, papers),General Articles & Documents,General Articles,General Articles 05,Newspaper (2005.172.1),Newspaper (2005.172.1) 1, Newspaper (2005.172.1) 1