American school children remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice

RAF FELTWELL, England – Col. Christopher Kulas, 100th Air Refueling Wing commander, speaks about the importance of Remembrance Day during an event held at RAF Feltwell Middle School Nov. 9, 2011. The event was held to help teach schoolchildren the importance of remembering those who died so that others may stay free. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ethan Morgan)

American school children remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice

RAF FELTWELL, England – Boogy Woogy Bugle Girl dancers from RAF Feltwell Middle School perform during a Remembrance Day event at their school Nov. 9, 2011. The event consisted of singing, dancing, guest speakers and a blackout, to simulate the real-world blackouts in England during World War II. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ethan Morgan)

American school children remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice

RAF FELTWELL, England – Roger Bacon, Chair of the U.K. Families of the Bereaved, speaks about the importance of Remembrance Day during an event held at RAF Feltwell Middle School Nov. 9, 2011. Bacon, whose son died in 2005 in Iraq, defending the freedom of his countrymen, is now part of an association for families of the fallen. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ethan Morgan)

American school children remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice

RAF FELTWELL, England – Lauren Preston, 10, a student from Feltwell Primary School, reads a letter her great-great-grandfather wrote to his wife the night before his ship was sunk during World War I. Lauren was assisted by Caroline Wakefield, Feltwell Primary School teacher, who also shared a story about her family’s loss in World War II. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ethan Morgan)

American school children remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice

Published Nov. 15, 2011
By SrA Ethan Morgan
100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

RAF FELTWELL, England - -- Teachers and faculty from RAF Feltwell Middle School hosted a Remembrance Day event Nov. 9, 2011. The event aimed to teach children the importance of remembering those who paid the ultimate sacrifice so that others may be free, and to honor those who willingly chose to risk their lives to defend that freedom.

Guest speakers, singing, dancing and a blackout were all part of the event.

The speakers included Roger Bacon, U.K. Families of the Bereaved chairman, whose son died in Iraq in 2005; Lauren Preston, 10, a student from the nearby Feltwell Primary School; and Caroline Wakefield, Feltwell Primary School teacher. They shared the memories of their loved ones lost during World War I, World War II and in Iraq.

Col. Christopher Kulas, 100th Air Refueling Wing commander, was also a guest speaker.

Preston shared a letter with the crowd from her great-great-grandfather, Harry Paul, to his wife. The letter was written in 1916, the night before Paul's ship, the HMS Queen Mary, was sunk during the Battle of Jutland.

The letter consisted of Paul telling his wife he feared that the upcoming battle would be his last, and if it was, she should know he would always love her and would be waiting for her on the other side.

"I'm really glad I had the chance to share the letter with everyone," said Preston. "This letter is really important to me, and it means a lot to let everyone know how important it is to my family."

A simulated blackout represented the blackouts that happened in the United Kingdom during World War II. During that time, windows were covered in black so that light could not be seen by German aircraft, to prevent them from being targets during bombings.

"The blackout and remembrance event are ways to help students to connect emotionally to the bravery that civilians in the United Kingdom had to muster during World War II," said Kay Taylor, RAF Feltwell Middle School faculty member. "Students don't automatically understand that their freedom isn't free and that sometimes some people just have to stand up to those who would choose to terrorize others."