Merchants’ association, educators use parade in Eden to teach respect, history

By Miranda Baines

Published: November 10, 2008

Red, white and blue and military uniforms were seen on the streets of Draper on Monday morning. Draper Elementary School students and veterans alike marched in the 5th Annual Veterans Day Parade. The Morehead High School JROTC led the parade.

Tammy Heath, principal of Draper Elementary School, said Linda Wyatt, president of the Draper Village Merchants’ Association, approached her about doing the parade five years ago.

“They learn to honor and respect the veterans,“ she said. Each student “adopts” a veteran for the parade and carries a poster with information about the veteran and a picture of the veteran. Fifth-grader Lyndzey Minter adopted Riley Brooks, who served in the Marine Corps from 1964 to 1967.

Karen Adkins of Reidsville proudly displayed a picture of her son, Pfc. Buddie Adkins of Sandy Ridge, who is serving in the Marines.

“It’s awesome. I’m just loving it,“ said Adkins. “It’s a way to show how proud I am of my son. I’ve always been patriotic, but now I’m more.“

Adkins’ sister, Sharon Bean, is a kindergarten assistant at Draper Elementary School. She said she had shown the kindergartners a picture of her nephew and talked to the children about “men and women who have served their country and the ones who are fighting now.“

“It’s tying right in with the election this year,“ said Bean. She said the children have learned about their country’s political process while learning about the military.

Tonya Gillepsie, a second-grade teacher at Draper Elementary, said her students have learned “respect” and the fact that “freedom isn’t free.“ Heath read the poem “Freedom Isn’t Free” at the program at Veterans Park that followed the parade.

“We are reminded once again of the inscription on the Korean War Memorial, ‘Freedom is Not Free,‘“ said N.C. Rep. Nelson Cole, guest speaker. Cole paid tribute to all the veterans and active service men and women, calling their service a “brave and selfless act of heroism.“

“Our soldiers are often the ones that are forced to risk their lives when our nation’s safety is threatened… No one has paid a higher price for our country than our service men and women,“ said Cole. “We must celebrate, honor and remember these courageous men and women.“

Cole also reminded the audience that North Carolina has the fourth largest military presence in the nation and said it’s important to fund programs that support veterans.

Before the conclusion of the Veterans Day program, Draper Elementary School students gave patriotic flowers to the veterans in attendance. Daniel Apple, an Army veteran who served in Desert Storm, and his son Jeremy, who is serving in the Army National Guard, were among the servicemen at the program.

“The children are learning a little bit about their heritage and what the military is,“ said Apple. His son, Jeremy, hopes the Veterans Day parade and program will teach the children that “freedom is not free and we do have to sometimes make sacrifices.“

“For me, it’s just remembering those who served and did not come back,“ said Jeremy.

Paul Stophel, who served in the Navy from 1951 to 1955, also attended, alongside his patriotically-dressed sisters Margie Frazier and Ruby West.

“If it wasn’t for the veterans, it wouldn’t be nothing,“ said Stophel. He also had five brothers who served in different branches of the military: John, Ernest, Charles, Wayne and Garry.

• Staff writer Miranda Baines can be reached at or 349-4331, ext. 35.