Eisenhower students go patriotic
By TODD FLORY, Sentinel Staff Writer

For the past few weeks, Eisenhower Elementary School third- and fourth -graders have been practicing for their upcoming play, "Our Homeland," which consists of a variety of American folk and patriotic songs and melodies.
The students and teachers have not been the only people preparing for the presentation as many city officials and veterans will have a part in the play as well.
McPherson Mayor Bill Goering will give a speech about the nuances of being a mayor and the responsibilities that the job includes. The speech will occur as an interlude while the students sing "America the Beautiful." The students will sing and use sign language through one part of the song, then Goering will give his speech, before the students sing and sign another round of the song.
"The mayor's speech will be in terms that the students can understand," said Eisenhower Elementary School music teacher Kristin Anderson.
Community veterans of the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force and U.S. Marines will be in attendance to help carry the flags of their respective military departments during a certain segment of the play, and also will help carry the United States and Kansas flags to the stage. When a specific military branch is carrying its flag down to the front, veterans of that branch who are in attendance are invited to stand as the flag goes by.
"God Bless America" will be the last musical number of the play, and one where the audience will be invited to stand and sing with the children, as the words of the song will be printed in the bulletin.
Students at Eisenhower also have been corresponding with soldiers in Iraq recently. Veterans in McPherson have helped make contacts with personnel at Fort Riley about adopting a unit in Iraq through the "Adopt A Unit Program." Through the program, the students write letters and send care packages each month to soldiers deployed overseas. In this month's care package, students will send a DVD of the play, pictures of Goering and the mayor's office, and pictures of a yellow ribbon-tying ceremony at the school's flagpole, which will take place before the play. The unit overseas will not necessarily be from Fort Riley, Anderson said, although there could be some individual soldiers from the area in the unit.
Anderson said the students have had a good time preparing for the play.
"I don't think they fully understand (the war situation and why the soldiers are over there), but they understand enough to know the purpose (of the play), to wish them well and that we're thinking of them and wanting them to come home," Anderson explained, noting that several students have been personally affected by the deployments to Iraq.
"I'm so very pleased with the school and community support," said Anderson. "It takes a lot of work and people to make this into one presentation and one package. I appreciate all the support."
The public performance is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday at Eisenhower Elementary School.

McPherson Unified School District 418
514 N. Main
McPherson, KS 67460
620-241-9400
It is the policy of McPherson USD 418 not to discriminate on the basis of sex, disability, race,
religion, color, age, or national origin in its educational programs and/or activities, nor in its employment practices.

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