Little Patriots: Cooley Ranch Students Honor Lives Lost on Patriot Day

Though too young to have witnessed the devastation of Sept. 11, 2001, youngsters at Cooley Ranch Elementary honored those lost in the attacks and celebrated the US flag in a morning Patriot Day ceremony held Friday, Sept. 11. It was the 14th anniversary of the attacks. “(Principal) Mrs. Scates and I are very proud of our Kiwanis Kids Program,” said the school’s vice principal Lorilee Martin. “Their efforts resulted in a moving Patriot Day observance.” Teacher Sheila Brightman, adviser for the school’s Kiwanis Kids student service club, or K-Kids, led the ceremony that featured patriotic songs arranged by teachers Douglas Nasluchacz and John Barringer and sung by the Cooley Ranch Concert Choir. Members of the Colton High School ROTC Color Guard presented the colors and Colton resident Ramon Salas, an Army veteran who served a tour of duty in Vietnam, led the assembly in the pledge of allegiance. His daughter Isabel Salas, member of the Cooley Ranch PTO, provided flags that the hundreds of students waved throughout the event. Sixth graders with the K-Kids set the tone by reading poetry that spoke of the nation’s strength and recovery. Brightman reminded the students about the tragedies and provided some of the background in language the children could understand. “Today is really about you,” Brightman said reminding them that love of country and patriotism was for everyone. “Do you have to be in the Army to be a patriot?” she asked. “No!” the children answered back. The Kiwanis Club of Cooley Ranch president Doug Blinkinsop and Lisa Blacksher, a field representative with the office of Assemblywoman Cheryl R. Brown’s attended the ceremony. Cooley Ranch annually holds a ceremony in observance of Patriot Day. This year’s event was held in front of the flagpole off of Cooley Road. All grades attended.