FORT BELVOIR, Va. -- Students and teachers from nearby Woodlawn Elementary School welcomed Soldiers from Fort Belvoir Friday for a special ceremony marking the anniversary of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
During an early-morning announcement inside the school's gymnasium, principal Stephanie Bisson referred to the school's slogan and called the day a collaboration and connection of communities.
"Though this day is a sad one for a lot of people, it's also a way for us to give thanks as a school to all those who protect us," Bisson told her students.
"Today, we join the Soldiers of Fort Belvoir in honoring those who have died and to thank those who continue to fight for us every day. We're proud to have you in our community. You're our heroes."
Several Soldiers from Belvoir's 212th Military Police Detachment were on hand, including Sgt. James Howard and Spc. Dereck Wisniewski. The pair later joined a class of first-grade students for a discussion on what it's like to be a police officer in the Army.
"Just like police officers everywhere else, our job is to make sure that Belvoir is safe," Wisniewski told his new friends. "We have everything a regular police officer has. It's a job we work hard at and one we take very seriously."
Howard, who was inspired to join the Army after the attacks on 9-11, said being an officer is his way of serving the U.S. to the best of his ability.
"I wanted to do my part in protecting my country and the world," Howard said. "If that means going to a lot of dangerous places that others wouldn't want to go to, then that's what I'll do."
One student, Deomany Melgar-Guardado, then asked, "But, aren't you afraid of getting hurt or losing the battle'"
Howard responded by saying, "We try hard not to get hurt. And we don't lose. We make sure of that."
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