Churchville Elementary School patriots salute the flag during a Patriot Program training class with Soldier and civilian volunteers from the 20th Support Command (CBRNE). From left, front row, Samantha Koga, Alyssa Carestia, Leah McNally, Courtney Ko...

20th Support Command (CBRNE) Soldiers and civilians volunteered their time and energy from January to March to help with a local elementary school's early morning voluntary civics program that rewards children who learn about America and become better citizens.

The Churchville Elementary Patriot Program is a civics program available to all students, kindergarten through fifth-grade, as a voluntary before-school program. The requirements are tailored to the grade level and progressively get more difficult as children progress through the grades. Fifth-graders who successfully complete the most difficult of the school's Patriot Program requirements are rewarded with a field trip to a national landmark.

The program promotes patriotism in students by having them accomplish tasks such as: reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, Star Spangled Banner, Preamble to the Constitution and Gettysburg Address; defining and explaining what an American Patriot is; knowing the 50 states, United States flag etiquette, the American's Creed; and completing a report on a patriot or President.

"I think this is a very positive link between the military and the surrounding community," said Dave Parker, human resources manager with the 20th SUPCOM (CBRNE). "It gives the kids a better perspective of us. They often don't realize the work Army civilians and Soldiers do. This program helps strengthen links between us and the local community. As it relates to the Patriot Program, the Soldiers are patriot models for these young students."

Once he found out about the program, it didn't take long for Capt. Timothy Sikorski, Headquarters and Headquarters Company commander for the 20th SUPCOM (CBRNE), to jump in and support the program.

"I volunteered because it sounded like a great program," Sikorski said. "I support civics education and looked forward to helping kids learn about patriotism."

20th SUPCOM volunteers met the students in the cafeteria each morning and tested them on patriotic skills and important events in American history.

"I really enjoyed seeing the children learn about American history," Sikorski said.

A 1999 study by the U.S. Department of Education indicated that three-quarters of America's high school seniors are not proficient in civics. As civics is not taught as part of the regular curriculum in many school districts as it was in the past, the Patriot Program gives Churchville children the opportunity to learn about a subject they might not otherwise have been exposed to.

"It's a program to help them learn more about their country," said Tina Carestia, a Churchville Elementary Patriot Program volunteer. "It used to be that you learned about Gettysburg in grammar school. You learned about patriots and Presidents. You just don't learn about those things anymore. It's not in the curriculum, and it's an important thing for the kids to learn."

This year, 33 fifth-graders successfully completed the program. These students started the rigorous program in December and successfully completed the program in March.

"They have eight to nine weeks to finish the program", Carestia said. "If the students finished the program, then they participated in a special ceremony in April. [Then, they had an] opportunity to attend a field trip to Gettysburg in May. The program is voluntary and is designed to be incredibly challenging. It's not a requirement, but when they finish the program, they feel good about it."

The sense of accomplishment the kids get when they finish the program is what motivates the volunteers of the program.

"Every so often, we get kids who we know worked [hard]," Carestia said. "We know that they really struggled. The look on their faces when they finish is priceless. It really is. They are so proud of themselves, because they did something that they didn't think that they could do."

The students who completed the program found it to be challenging, but worth it.

"I thought it was a challenge for young students to learn about American history," said Alex Krass, an eleven-year-old fifth grader. "It was fun to larn about Gettysburg. Everybody should participate."