‘Veterans Day Mass’ celebrated Nov. 12

WASILLA — Our Lady of the Valley Catholic School organized a Veteran’s Day Mass Nov. 12 officiated by Father Scott Garrett at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Wasilla. An invitation was extended to all veterans living in the Matanuska Susitna Valley.

Our Lady of the Valley Catholic School paid tribute to veterans with a presentation titled “Numbers” and a solo by Paige Frey, singing “America” began the ceremony. Statistics of those who served and died were recited by students, and plaques were raised with the numbers as a small remembrance of great loss. “Civil War: 4,000,000 served and 618,222 died; Vietnam: 8,744,000 served and 58,209 died.”

As the last plaque was raised by a young child and the final numbers stated with Iraq and Afghanistan war data, the students sang “God Bless America.”

Veterans in attendance clearly understood the message the children were trying to impart to the congregation. Veterans are a precious piece of our country’s heart that has felt great pain, but endures a steady beat.

A reception following the Mass included doughnuts for the Hurricane Sandy Relief Fund, which is a part of the school’s Outreach Ministry.

The students and staff at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic School thank the community for supporting their Veterans Day tribute.