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November 11, 2009

Deer Creek students observe Veterans Day

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  • PATTY MILLER | THE EDMOND SUN Retired Adm. Greg Slavonic visits with sixth-grade student Gabe Buckles, World War II veteran Guilo Ferlo and Gerald Buckles, Gabe� father. Gabe and Ferlo discovered they both played the clarinet as Ferlo shared he played with the Glenn Miller Band. Patty Miller

    Gregory Slavonic at Deer Creek Veterans Day

  • PATTY MILLER | THE EDMOND SUN Deer Creek Middle School sixth-grader Natalie Goodin, retired Adm. Greg Slavonic, eighth-grader Ariel Fitchue, World War II veteran Guilo Ferlo, eighth-grader Taylor Brown and Counselor Andrea Carpenter, from left, visit following the Veterans Day assembly Wednesday. Patty Miller

    Gregory Slavonic at Deer Creek Veterans Day

  • PATTY MILLER | THE EDMOND SUN Deer Creek Middle School students perform during the Veterans Day assembly Wednesday. The school� guest speaker was retired Adm. Greg Slavonic. Patty Miller

    Gregory Slavonic at Deer Creek Veterans Day

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PATTY MILLER

EDMOND — Deer Creek Middle School students gathered in the gymnasium Wednesday to observe Veterans Day 2009 by recognizing the 23 million veterans who fought on all fronts in all wars.

The students also observed a moment of silence for the service men and women and their families stationed at Fort Hood.

In addition to honoring family members who have served in all areas and branches of the war, students listened to guest speaker retired Adm. Greg Slavonic. His 34-year career spanned service in Vietnam, Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm and Operation Enduring Freedom (Iraq).

Slavonic encouraged the students to get a good education, take advantage of the opportunities given to them and be the best they can be.

He told the students that in the military finishing second is not acceptable.

“All veterans are winners,” Slavonic said. “Freedom is not free, whether it was 234 years ago or today. Those in the military are trained to win.”

He reminded the students that the World War II generation is called the “Greatest Generation,” but those who serve today are called the “Dedicated Generation.”

“That is because those who serve now are no different than those who served during W.W. II,” Slavonic said. “The legacy continues. Members of the military during both generations were volunteers, they were not drafted.”

Eighth-graders Caden Sanders and Cole Pacheco said they both admired the W.W. II veteran Guilo Ferlo who was a guest during the assembly.

Ferlo served with Gen. George S. Patton’s army in Europe, and his great-grandson Luke Cathey attends the middle school. Ferlo’s service to his country didn’t go unnoticed by the students attending the assembly.

“It helped me understand that everybody is fighting for us and our freedom, and it gives me a good feeling,” Sanders said.

Slavonic told the students their life experiences will shape their lives just as his life experiences have shaped his.

“There is a bonding that occurs between those who serve,” Slavonic said. “When you go into harm’s way and your life is placed in the hands of someone else and you survive, that is a feeling, a bond which is unexplainable to those never having been in that situation.”

Counselor Andrea Carpenter recognized her father, also a veteran, and said, “Because of him I have a passion for this,” referring to the veterans’ program Carpenter was in charge of organizing.

The assembly closed with eighth-grader Darbi Haley playing “Taps.” Her parents, Diana and Chuck Budnick, are both retired Air Force. Chuck recently retired after 26 years of service.

“What Adm. Slavonic said about the men and women giving up their lives for our country really made an impression on me,” Darbi said.

Slavonic is now the Strategic Communications & Public Affairs Principal Leader at Computer Sciences Corporation. He holds a Master of Education degree from the University of Central Oklahoma and a Journalism and Broadcasting degree from Oklahoma State University.

He has been an adjunct professor and is recognized as a “Distinguished Former Student” by UCO and is one of only five OSU graduates to achieve flag rank.

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