Around Crownsville/Gambrills: Area schools remember heroes, learn about service

Veterans Day has long been recognized as a time to honor men and women who serve in the military. But at area schools, it was an opportunity to teach children about sacrifice and heroes.

"Really, it's an extension of our education, for our kids to realize and appreciate and be exposed to veterans themselves," said Nate Bailey a spokesman for the school.

"We see this as a really neat opportunity for them to come face to face and meet some real heroes in our community."

Rockbridge held a formal ceremony in honor of the day, complete with a ceremonial wreath laid at the grave of World War II veteran Bobby Neiswander in Baldwin United Methodist Church's cemetery.

Students who submitted (and won) in the Annapolis Veterans of Foreign War's essay contest read their submissions, and sixth-grader William Brenninkmeyer recited the Gettysburg Address.

The keynote speaker was Dr. Mark Plaster, a doctor at Harbor Hospital who served with the Marine's Fourth Medical Battalion in Iraq.

"We chose him because it's a really neat example," Nate said. "Nothing's forcing him to go, but he chose out of service to his country to go help those marines."

That's really what the event was about.

"It is about honoring veterans, but it's beyond that," he said. "It's realizing that service is a continual thing, not just a hit or miss type of thing."

Down the road at Millersville Elementary School, students were honoring veterans in a hands-on fashion - literally.

"We had the absolutely most amazing little ceremony we've ever done at any of the schools I have been too," said Rachel Amstutz, the school's vice principal.

After a traditional Veterans Day ceremony, the children focused on the day's big project: making a huge flag with hand prints as the stars and stripes.

Smaller hand prints made the stars, and older children, faculty and even the superintendent made up the stripes.

The flag will be sent to the troop that the school supports.

"We wanted the students to recognize the importance of the day and to build their understanding of Veterans Day and why we celebrate it," Rachel said.

"The students were into it … I think as a group we were truly able to build the students understanding of the holiday."

Dr. Linda Ferrara at South Shore Elementary School was also trying to build her students' understanding.

"I think they understood it - freedom isn't free, and we need to be grateful every day for our veterans (and) how much they give us," she said.

The children performed patriotic songs for the ceremony, and Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler spoke about the importance of service.

"It was really a phenomenal program," Linda said. "This day is very important for our country, but it's very important that our children learn (about it) from us."

It's that time of year again, when fall begins to give way to winter and holiday preparations go into full swing.

And at Baldwin United Methodist Church, that means it's time to bake pumpkin cheesecakes and sign up vendors for the annual Holiday Craft Show and Bazaar.

"There's just a lot of hands that are in on this," said Janice Terrett, a member of the church's United Methodist Women and chairwomen of the craft show.

The show runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. tomorrow in the church's fellowship hall, at 911 General's Highway just over the line into Millersville.

Vendors will be selling all sorts of crafts, from stained glass to woodworking to paintings to needlework. There will also be a bake table stocked by the United Methodist Women, a country store and a white elephant room.

Looking for something to do with the kids while you shop? Santa will make an appearance at Santa's Workshop, where children can write him letters or other crafts.

Lunch, featuring shrimp or chicken salad and Hugh William's "famous" vegetable beef and chicken noodle soups, will be for sale.

"People come back just for his soup," Janice said.

Funds raised benefit the many programs run by the church, including backpacks for school children and Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets.

Last year, they raised about $5,000 at the craft show, which went to around $15,000 that they donated to charitable organizations.

"We have a good time, and I'm so pleased we're able to help so many people," she said.

The ladies have a lot of help. The youth group helps set up and the United Methodist Men and a local Boy Scout troop pitch in. And this year, they didn't have to advertise for vendors; they have more applying than they have room for.

"Most of them are repeats or they heard about us from another crafter," she said. "You become family, you get to know them."

But the rest is done by about 50 ladies in the different "circles" that make up the United Methodist Women.

"They're absolutely terrific and they work really hard doing this," she said. "It's a lot of work, but it is fun."

For more information, call 410-987-4273.

The Chrysalis House in Crownsville has a few specific needs his holiday season.

A residential rehabilitation center for women and their children, the organization particularly needs gifts for children. Ages, boys and girls, range from infant to about 6 years old and sizes run from 4 to 10.

Diapers in all sizes and Walmart gift cards are also appreciated.

For information, call 410-974-6829.

Indian Creek Upper School's fall theater production of "The Diary of Anne Frank" is showing this weekend only, at 7 p.m. today and tomorrow in the Jack and Nancy Becker Center for the Performing Arts on the school's campus, 1130 Anne Chambers Way in Crownsville.

Tickets are $10 and are available at the door or by e-mailing boxoffice@indiancreekschool.com.

Do you have a story to share or event to announce? Send your Crownsville and Gambrills news to hroth@capitalgazette.com.