Belvoir Elementary earns Gold Star status

By Jacqueline LeekerNovember 19, 2009

Belvoir Elementary earns Gold Star status
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Congressman Jim Moran hands the students certificates as Installation Commander Col. Jerry Blixt hands out coins. Belvoir Elementary students were recognized for writing the book "Kids in Camo." The book educated civilian students on the lives of mil... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Belvoir Elementary earns Gold Star status
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT BELVOIR, Va. -- Congressman Jim Moran visited Fort Belvoir Elementary School Friday morning to congratulate students on becoming recognized as a Gold Star School by the Armed Forces Foundation.

FBES students were recognized for their many volunteer efforts and for creating a book, "Kids in Camo."

"Kids in Camo" talks about living on a military base, school, military parents, moving, uniforms, security, shopping on post and support. The book was included in the Operation Caring Classroom packet, distributed to students all over the country.

Operation Caring Classroom is a program run by the foundation, which pairs a civilian elementary school from each state with a military school in the same state to connect the civilian children with their peers in military families and teach them about Veterans Day and the tremendous sacrifices children of military families face.

"Every year, we do Operation Caring Classroom to raise awareness and appreciation for our military families. Our organization strongly believes families serve, too. We want to take care of military families. We came to present Belvoir Elementary as a gold star school for going above and beyond," said Rebecca Woolson, the foundation's director of operations.

In recognition, Moran gave the students certificates and Installation Commander Col. Jerry Blixt gave each a coin and congratulated them on their hard work.

"You have so many reasons to be proud of your parents and they have so much reason to be proud of you," Moran said. "Making other people happy, will make you happy and you have done that by volunteering."

Blixt told the students he was humbled by their efforts.

"You all should take pride in everything you have accomplished. I know your parents are proud of you, and I know Fort Belvoir is also very proud of all you do," he said.

The ceremony marked the last day of a week-long initiative involving 100 elementary schools across the country.

Earlier in the week, the younger students participated in an Armed Forces Foundation assembly. The kindergarten classes marched around the cafeteria singing Yankee Doodle Dandy and other patriotic songs while waving flags. Students in one kindergarten class drew photos of the veterans in their homes.