Parents of Redmond, Wash., elementary school children are “disgusted” after the annual Veterans Day assembly was ditched in favor of a “Peace Assembly” in recognition of the “International Day of Tolerance” on United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). “
According to Seattle KTTHBenjamin Rush Elementary in the Lake Washington School District traditionally celebrates Veterans Day with patriotic songs from the school choir.
Not this year and some families were blindsided by the change.
Although the “Peace Assembly” appeared in the school newsletter on October 29 and November 5, it did not explain what it was.
“I was extremely disappointed, but not surprised,” a parent of a Benjamin Rush Elementary student told “The Jason Rantz Show” on KTTH. “For years, the Veterans Assembly has been a highlight at the school and one of the few midday assemblies that brings quite a large audience of parents to come and hear the speakers.”
Instead of the choir singing the national anthem and “It’s a Grand Old Flag,” students heard songs like “Live in Peace,” “Peacebuilder Pledge Song,” “Amani Utupe Na Ustawi” and “Namaste.”
“Students will spend most of the assembly singing songs, with each level performing two songs they learned while attending music classes at school,” explained a district spokesperson.
The father, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals, points to a partisan administration as the reason for the school’s decision.
Over the past few years, he said, “the school administration has moved very far away from pride in our traditions and American history.”
The school has a “fairly large Israeli population,” he said, and given Israel’s war against Hamas terrorists, he believes the traditional Veterans Day assembly would have been especially important this year.
“I know there’s a lot of tension in our communities right now because of the war in Israel,” the father said, adding that “we should take the time to show our children and our community that we have brave men and women .who are willing to stand up and fight for our freedom and peace that other places in the world can only dream of.”
UNESCO’s “Day of Tolerance” is celebrated every year on November 16. The school assembly will be held a day earlier, on November 15.
According to the General Assembly of the United Nationswho first proclaimed the day in 1996, “tolerance is the solid foundation of any civil society and peace”.
But students will still learn about Veterans Day, a district spokesperson told KTTH. “They will watch videos about the sacrifices veterans have made and make cards to thank veterans.”
This is not the same as a school assembly, said the father.
“I remember three years ago, sitting next to a father who had recently moved to America from Germany,” he recalled. “She was sitting there with tears in her eyes. Afterwards, she told me she was blown away by American patriotism and pride.”
Meanwhile, “At least ten other schools in the district are holding Veterans Day assemblies, including Ella Baker Elementary, Timberline Middle and Emerson High,” KTTH reports. “According to the district calendar, Benjamin Rush is the only school to host a Peace Assembly.”
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