Honoring Veterans at Barkley Elementary School

“I’m no hero. I was only doing my duty.”

Those are the words Warriors’ Watch Riders founder Wayne Lutz hears every time he and members of his organization welcome soldiers home from military deployments.

Lutz shared his thoughts Friday on what it means to be a veteran with an audience of students, Boy Scouts, faculty, school district administrators and fellow veterans during a morning full of tributes commemorating Veterans Day.

Festivities began on a windswept playground, where students waved miniature American flags as roughly two dozen motorcyclists from Warriors’ Watch Riders, Hero’s Welcome, Buffalo Soldiers Motorcycle Club, Friends of the Forgotten and Valley Forge Hogs rode along Third Avenue to the school. Once inside, Lutz explained that organizations like these operate with one goal—to honor the nation’s soldiers and veterans.

“Veterans take an oath to defend the Constitution of the United States, knowing what it might mean to do that,” he said. “They did their duty anyway. Everyone who risked their lives in defense of our freedom is a hero.”

Warrior’s Watch Riders greets soldiers at the airport with an honor guard and salutes. The group then forms a motorcade and escorts the soldier and his or her family home.

Lutz later explained that his group serves an educational purpose as well, taking “teach the children rides” to schools to spread the message of why veterans are an important part of their history. This is the riders’ second trip to Barkely Elementary, having participated in last year’s Veteran’s Day festivities.

“When I founded Warriors’ Watch I decided to focus on educating the public on the importance of honoring veterans,” he said. “We are honored to be here again this year. You can see in the classrooms how the kids prepared for this.”

In several classrooms, students heard first-hand accounts from veterans who served with different branches of the military. Vietnam War veteran Adam Devaney told Ruth Dougherty’s third-grade class what it was like to fly an attack helicopter during the war, showing them his flight suit and helmet.

As a captain in the U.S. Marines, he served three years of active duty and spent 13 months in Vietnam, where he flew 692 missions and was shot down three times. He said that his job was to fly along with larger helicopters that were transporting soldiers or supplies, to protect those aircraft from being shot down. While his job was risky, Devaney said he was proud to serve his country.

He also spoke of the importance of remembering veterans and honoring them for what they do.

“If you see veterans on the street, walk up to them and say ‘thank you,’” he said. “It’s a tough job that they do.”

Barkley Elementary principal Keya Champagne-Lee and art teacher Karen Ewerth, who organized the event, welcomed guests with words of gratitude for service to their country.

“We are so pleased to be able to present this type of event for our children,” Champagne-Lee said.

Ceremony participants came from all areas of the school. Boy Scouts and K-Kid officers served as promenade leaders, carrying flags and leading the gathering in the pledge of allegiance. A fifth-grade musical group, led by vocal music instructor Kelly Dengler and accompanied by Dave Bretzius, sang “The Star-Spangled Banner,” while the entire student body sang “America” and “Thankful for the USA.”

Fifth-grade student Andre Moffatt Mercado recited a poem entitled “Take a Moment to Thank a Veteran,” by Janna Fuchs, in which the author concludes “Thanks for what you’re doing to keep us safe in the USA."

Also attending the event were PASD superintendent Dr. Alan Fegley and school board president Paul Slaninka, who asked for a moment of silence in honor of veterans who died serving their country. That was followed by the playing of TAPS on the trumpet by Phoenixville Area Middle School student Zach Lindley.