Fwd: Students in the cold today (Sharing of a Special Day with the Broader Community)

The E-mail and letter attached further below was shared by Principal Steve Fuller with Park Crest Middle School parents. As Principal Fuller stated in the letter, "Your kids represented us well today, showed respect for a fellow American...they were visibly moved...Thank you for sending us such good citizens..." Their choosing to take part in showing respect to a Fallen Warrior surely made an impression on those who drove by them. Here is what they were a part of:

 

Jan. 29th was one of those special days--a day where many people came together--in this case to honor a Pflugerville Fallen Warrior. The celebration of Capt. Sean Lyerly's life and service to our country was marked on Monday, Jan. 29th, midday, with a standing room only service with family, friends, and the community participating. The service included Most Reverend Bishop Gregory Aymond presiding, and Gov. Rick Perry, Congressman Michael McCaul, State Rep. Mark Strama, and members of the military, Disabled American Veterans, and the Aggie Corps of Cadets in attendance.

 

The funeral procession from the church was impressive with numerous law enforcement motorcyles, many Patriot Guard members with U.S. flags on their cycles, and various law enforcement vehicles and a long line of cars with their lights on. This solemn cermonial parade, with law enforcement vehicle lights flashing, passed Parkcrest Middle School as it exited St. Elizabeth's Church. The first person you saw along N. Railroad was principal Steve Fuller respectfully saluting Capt. Lyerly, his family, and those who escorted him, followed by many middle schoolers from Parkcrest witnessing the procession along the school's eastern boundary. Then the younger students at recess at Brookhollow Elementary were seen pressed along the playground fence taking in the moment. Each and every one of the cars not involved in the procession line came to a standstill on the opposite side of Railroad and then along the opposite side of W. Pecan (FM 1825) all the way to IH35. The funeral procession was long. It appeared to stretch from the center of town to IH35. The roads highs and lows and curves let you see far ahead and it was an impressive sight to see. One young adult riding in a truck parked at Heatherwilde intersection stoplight stood outside his passenger door, proudly saluting our fallen young soldier. He had that look on his face that you wanted to capture in a picture.

 

Upon arriving at the cemetery, flags were in abundance on both sides of the final part of the procession, due to the Patriot Guard and Pflugerville citizens who joined them to show their support and respect for this helicopter pilot. These flags waved as Capt. Lyerly was committed to his final resting place--after the presentation of flags that flew over the U.S. Capitol to his family, a multi-gun salute, two trumpets playing taps in an echoing fashion, and a helicopter flying overhead, with the co-pilot protuding from his window giving a firm salute to Capt. Lylerly below. It was one of those special days--one where many came together to extend a salute or put their hand over their heart for a Pflugerville citizen--a Fallen Warrior--who paid the ultimate price.

 

Memorial Fund: In Leiu of flowers you can donate to: 
The Sean Lyerly Memorial Account 
Acct # 5206859 
First Command Bank 
4100 Hulen St. 
Ft. Worth, TX 76109

 

For info on Pflugerville's Fallen Warrior Memorial go to: www.fallenwarriormemorial.com. Most recent memorial fund addresses are posted at www.pfcona.org.  

Steve Fuller <Steve.Fuller@pflugervilleisd.net> wrote:

Date: Mon, 29 Jan 2007 15:34:47 -0600
From: "Steve Fuller" <Steve.Fuller@pflugervilleisd.net>
Subject: Students in the cold today
To: rodreyna@sbcglobal.net
CC: "Brim, Amanda" <Amanda.Brim@pflugervilleisd.net>,
"Dupre, Charles"
<Charles.Dupre@pflugervilleisd.net>,
"Eaton, Terrence"
<Terrence.Eaton@pflugervilleisd.net>,
"Reese, Randy"
Randy.Reese@pflugervilleisd.net

About 25 students in Mr. Gross's Fourth Period class had to be outside today for an extended period of time, but for a good reason. Please read the attached letter in order to understand.

Thank you,
SF

~~~~~~~~~~

Dear Parent,

      Your child got to participate in an important, but unexpected ceremony today that required his/her being outside for over an hour. I sincerely apologize if he/she suffers any ill effects from this, but perhaps the following explanation will help to mitigate the circumstances.

 

      Captain Sean Lyerly, a US Soldier killed in Iraq last week , was the college roommate of Mr. Ryan Gross, Science Teacher here at Park Crest. Capt. Lyerly's funeral was held at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church, next door to Park Crest, today. It was scheduled to begin at noon. At about 11:30 a.m., it was suggested that the entire student body stand outside as the funeral procession passed, to show their respect. Since that was not possible, it was decided it would be a nice gesture for Mr. Gross's class to stand out in front and represent the school, so that is what we did. What we did not know was that the funeral would take an hour longer than expected, and we were afraid if we went back in, we would miss the opportunity, so we stayed outside.

 

      Upon returning to the building, we let the kids know that we appreciated their sacrifice by being out in the cold, and took the opportunity to compare their temporary discomfort with the hardships faced by our troops in Iraq and other places. We emphasized before and after that their participation today should be voluntary, and if they had religious or political objections, or thought you would, they should not go. I said their participation in no way indicated anything other than respect for an American serviceman's sacrifice, and for their teacher's friend. All were given the opportunity to stay inside, and all chose to go out. Two students were even on crutches, and they hobbled out with us. I was very proud of them all and told them I thought they had learned as much or more from that hour outside than they might have in class.

 

      The kids stood at the curb on Railroad Ave. in front of the school, at attention, holding US Flags, as the procession passed by . The first wave of vehicles consisted of VFW and other veterans' groups on motorcycles, and they were visibly moved. As the family car and the hearse passed, your kids stood respectfully. Finally, Mr. Gross's car passed, and he too, was affected by what he saw. 

 

      Your kids represented us well today, showed respect for a fellow American, and hopefully are none the worse for the wear. Thank you for sending us such good citizens. 

 

                                                Sincerely,

                                                Steve Fuller,

                                                Park Crest Principal