Village School, a tk-6th grade private school was in session on Veterans Day.
Village School and Seven Arrows held school today, despite this being a national holiday, Veterans Day. The holiday celebrates and remembers all who have served in the military, both in wartime and peacetime, living and dead.
A resident and a veteran was asked how he felt and he said, “it was disgraceful that the school was being held on Veterans Day.”
One Seven Arrows parent was asked, and he said, that maybe they teach about Veterans Day in the classroom. There are numerous veterans in Pacific Palisades and perhaps they are speaking to local classrooms.
But most belong to Ronald Reagan American Legion Post 283, which held a rally at the Santa Monica pier with numerous dignitaries.
Past Legion Commander Lieutenant Colonel Jim Cragg (retired) is heading a “kickoff” of an Alumni Ambassadors Campaign for the American Legion Nationwide to help educate in the classroom.
But for the Vets, who work as teachers, guards and bus drivers at those two schools, they did not have the day off, either.
Village School Head John Evans and Seven Arrows Head Margarita Pagliai were contacted and asked why it was decided to have school, today, on this Federal holiday.
Pagliai returned CTN’s call and explained “We take Veterans Day seriously. We think its important to honor our vets.” She said that sometimes when there’s a holiday and students have the day off, they don’t understand the importance. She said at school there’s a specific curriculum for each grade and that the kids are made to think about the importance through relatives, such as grandparents, who may have been vets. “We’re working to make the day authentic and real,” she said.
Pagliai welcomed an introduction to Cragg, so they could possibly work on a program for next year.
Evans never responded with the reasoning for keeping Village School open.
President Woodrow Wilson commemorated the first anniversary of the World War I armistice in 1919. It was originally called Armistice Day.
“To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations,” he said.
Following World War II and the Korean War in 1954, the word armistice was changed to veterans to honor veterans of all American wars.
The purpose of Memorial Day and Veterans Day is different. Memorial Day is meant to honor all who served and gave their lives for their country.
Severn Arrows Elementary School was held today on Veterans Day.
(Editor’s note: My father, grandfather, several uncles and now my nephew and son have or are serving in the military. I am proud of them. If for any reason California came under attack from a foreign country, this wealthy enclave would be the first to request the military, even though there seems to be disdain by some for the people who choose that career.)
Please thank the members of your family for their service! 🇺🇸
My husband is a vet— Viet Nam helicopter pilot. Shot down and the only survivor.
Home of the free because of the bravec
I come from family with many members having served and an uncle who died on Omaha Beach. Growing up, Veterans Day was not a school holiday and I don’t see any reason for it to be one. With all of the holidays and breaks that schools have, it seems there aren’t many lengthy periods for students to fall into a pattern of learning.
I tried to post a comment and when I hit submit it disappeared.
The gist of it was:
My neighbor‘s child goes to Village School and the parents told me that there was no talk whatsoever about Veterans Day. Not only do they not get the day off, but they get the day off for indigenous people day, the day after Halloween is a day off, and they have a partial day celebration about Dia de los Muertos.
We have a preschooler and we’re considering those schools, but will not now..