Putting smiles on children’s faces; day was rewarding
Published 12:00 am Sunday, December 22, 2024
Trever Ryder Gilbert goes up to see Santa and get his presents at the party. — Karen Kistler
Julia Canada spends time playing with the streamers before lunch was served. — Karen Kistler
Callie Trexler, right, plays with one of the children during the Christmas party at the American Legion Post. — Karen Kistler
Daevon Donaldson-Huntley goes up front to see Santa and receive his packages. — Karen Kistler
This group gathered on the floor and played with building blocks while others in the background danced or played with streamers at the party. -=- Karen Kistler
Daniel Haddock, left, and Monte Bruce, fixed lunch for everyone at the party. — Karen Kistler
Santa Claus and elf Callie Trexler make their entrance into the room at the party. — Karen Kislter
Charity Bowman, ECS teacher at Granite Quarry, danced with one of the students. — Karen Kistler
SALISBURY — The Harold B. Jarrett American Legion Post 342 on Lincolnton Road was the host of a Christmas party for the students in the exceptional children’s program from three Rowan County elementary schools.
Students from Granite Quarry Elementary School, Hurley Elementary School and Millbridge Elementary School were treated to a party complete with food, fun and a visit from Santa Claus who distributed gifts to the children.
Queen Williams, a member of the local post, said they host a special event for the children two times a year, at Easter and at Christmas.
“I shop until I drop,” Williams said, “and I try to get everything that they put on their lists in order that when they get here, they have a smile on their faces when they leave.”
She credited a former American Legion Post member, the late Mr. Garwood, for previously doing this event for the children.
“I’m doing this because I try to carry his legacy on because he was doing this before he got sick and he passed,” she said. “We are carrying the torch.”
This year’s party had a different look as Williams said that instead of having the children sit and someone provide entertainment, they provided a variety of items like balls, streamers, hula hoops and coloring pages and crayons to just let the children play and have fun.
“We call it our playground today,” said Williams.
While the children were playing, Daniel Haddock and Monte Bruce, members of the post, were downstairs in the kitchen preparing lunch and mentioned that the post does a lot and they do these things because, Haddock said, “I love it. I’ve been working with kids for 35 years. You know we’ve got to love it to do it.”
Bruce added that “it’s community.”
After everyone finished lunch, Williams announced that a special guest was on his way. She rang a bell and in no time, elf Callie Trexler and Santa Claus entered the room. They made their way to the front of the room where a special chair was awaiting Santa and as the children were brought to the front, their names were called and they had their photos taken and Santa and elf Trexler handed them their gifts.
Teachers and assistants and other helpers were there playing or dancing with the children or sitting and coloring with them during the special event.
Charity Bowman, the ECS teacher at Granite Quarry Elementary, said that this party was a “great opportunity for our kids to get out in the community and to have a similar experience that not all students in a special education classroom might get if they were in a general education classroom.”
Hurley Elementary School ESC teacher Lauren Collins said she was “very appreciative that they allow our kids to come and take over and be a part of the community.”
Trexler, Miss Rowan County Veteran, said she “really enjoys serving the kids and enjoys serving my community.”
She expressed appreciation to the veterans organizations for providing her the “opportunity to work with my community and serve them.”
Members of the post auxiliary were volunteering their time at the party setting up and serving food or interacting with the children.
“We’re here for the community,” said Virginia Brown, and “kids are the community.”
Chris McCowan said that this post is wonderful.
“My husband was military for 20 years. We, as auxiliary, support them wholeheartedly.”
Lynn Marsh, a retired teacher and principal, attended and said she never misses this event.
“This is wonderful for our children that are in the special needs classes,” she said, “and the veterans have done this for way over 40 years and so it’s very much a service to our school system. It’s just remarkable the work that they put into it, and the fun that the kids have.”
She added that they are blessed to work with the veterans.
Mona Hipps, an ECS teacher assistant at Granite Quarry Elementary, said this day was rewarding to her and especially for them to be able to watch the children interact with children from other schools.
Having been in the school system for 27 years and with EC for 13 years, Hipps said, “this is not work. This is fun. To watch them grow and to see the things that they accomplish, it’s very rewarding.”
