WITH ONE eye on her toddler and the other on the images before her – images of 9/11’s horrific planes crashing, burning buildings, and first responders – Emily Ezell knew she was no longer just hearing war stories. As she watched her generation deploy, the Cowan Elementary School teacher felt the reality of the cost of freedom.
“What can I do, from where I am, to serve my country?” Ezell asked herself. “I’m in the classroom, a perfect place to make a difference. If I can teach these children to love our country and the importance of the sacrifices that have been made and are going to be made, then I know I’m doing something worthwhile and meaningful,” she said.
That something began as a school play honoring veterans and their sacrifices. She wrote and directed the play expecting to present it a time or two, but it continued to grow. As the support grew, so did the play and its influence.
“It brought about a sense of community within our classroom and our school,” Ezell said.
“It wasn’t just a third-grade play. It was a sea of red, white, and blue throughout our building. All students and teachers wanted to go all out for the visiting veterans,” she said.
Commander Kimberly King of Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 10904 Manchester attended the play in 2017, and her visit changed everything for Ezell. Commander King, moved by the school’s patriotism and pride, encouraged Ezell to apply for VFW’s Teacher of the Year. She did and was one of three teachers nationally awarded Teacher of the Year in 2018. Ezell attended a Freedom Foundation event where she learned of the Medal of Honor Character Development Program through this connection. This program teaches children to develop essential character traits: courage, integrity, commitment, sacrifice, citizenship, and patriotism.
Ezell easily integrated the program into the curriculum, pleased that it offered more than just lessons. Students see why these character traits are important and how they can change lives.
Ezell said, “The Medal of Honor Foundation wants you to know if you learn to possess these traits, you’re going to make your community stronger, your country stronger, your family stronger, and the world stronger. My goal is to help children find these character traits within themselves, so they’ll be an active part of making our community better. We’re definitely better together, and we each have something special to contribute.“
She continued, “I call my students ‘the greatest generation yet to come.’ I believe it’s so important to breathe that kind of life into them. Today, there’s so much negativity about our country, our children, and the world. They completely depend on us to show them the way, and that’s where I think this program comes into play.”
Ezell said, “World War II veterans are the greatest generation; I don’t want to take anything from that generation. But, if enough of us can show students today the way and work together and breathe life into them, there can be another great generation yet to come.” –GN
