LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. –
About 100 students and faculty at Jane H. Bryan Elementary School got a first-hand account of what it's like to be in the Air Force at their "take a veteran to school day" event Nov. 11.
Staff Sgt. William Beasley, a network engineer with the 10th Intelligence Squadron, a Tuskegee Airman, and speakers from the Marines, Army, Navy, and Coast Guard participated in the event, which was covered by the History Channel.
"Today's celebration went very, very well. We had excellent speakers from our school community," said Dr. Vatara C. Slade, Jane H. Bryan Elementary School principal. "We were thrilled to take this time out to honor our veterans."
The students, faculty and guests gathered in the school cafeteria for a ceremony honoring the veterans. After the presentations, children were allowed to ask the military speakers questions, including why they joined the military.
"I joined the military because it was a duty I felt I wanted to do," said Sergeant Beasley. "My father and everyone else in my family are police officers. I didn't feel that was enough for me.
"I wanted to go abroad and I wanted to do more," he added. "Coming from a small town in Alabama, I wanted to be able to say I have been there and I have done that."
Although Sergeant Beasley doesn't have children, his best friend has seven giving him daily practice on how to communicate with them.
"I wanted to bring information to these young kids in a way they can understand," said Sergeant Beasley. "Possibly give them the big picture of what's going on with the war on terrorism and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq."
The event also helped the students understand their future, according to Sergeant Beasley.
"If they decided to serve their country, they can see how each branch completes their mission and can choose from there," said Sergeant Beasley.
Before the auditorium was returned to its natural state as a cafeteria, a group of small children dressed in military head gear and blouses, which nearly dragged the ground, gave the guest speakers posters and cards they created.
"We all connected so well, I would speak to these children every day if I could," said Sergeant Beasley.
The event will be aired on the History channel at a later date.