Rhonda Farrand makes sure veterans and active military are honored year-round, teaches the difference between the holidays
(In the photo: From left, Ryker Johnson, Thomas Peavey and Claytin Loucks look over and add names of veterans on a poster that hung in the third floor hallway before making its way down to the front office foyer for display)
From Wellsville Central School
Rhonda Farrand is a member of the math department at Wellsville Central School, teaching algebra. She also makes sure the students know about military veterans, active members and the meaning of each holiday.
This week, a poster was hanging outside her classroom door for students to write the names of friends, family or anyone they knew who served or are currently serving. Names of Wellsville Central School staff members who are veterans are on the board along with family members, grandparents and even students who recently graduated.
“I had the kids watch a four-and-a-half minute long video that talked about the difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day and who we recognize for Veterans Day. It also showed them why it is on the 11th day of the 11th month … dating back to World War I,” Farrand said.
Students developed an appreciation for active members. They learned there are 29 million veterans in the country and wondered, how do only 1.2 million active military members defend over 330 Americans?
“We also talked about what the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month means,” Farrand said. “We also talked about what it means when you take that oath and how the military can send you anywhere, at any time. Finally, we talked about how there are over 29 million Veterans in the United States today.”
Military has another meaning for Farrand. She met her husband (Technical Sergeant Richard Farrand, United States Air Force, retired) in high school and married after high school. They traveled for over 20 years while he was in the military.
“Veterans are very close to my heart,” Rhonda Farrand said. “I always talk about Veterans Day and Memorial Day in my classroom. I want to make sure students are aware of why we have the day off. I don’t want the federal holiday meaning to be lost.”
