December 3, 2021
Students and staff throughout Humble ISD celebrated military veterans with a number of events on Veterans Day, Nov. 11.
Eagle Springs Elementary honored veterans with a campus drive-thru car parade.
The parade, consisting of veterans in a caravan, was greeted by cheering staff, students, and members of the community along the parade route which wound through the Eagle Springs campus.
SFC Michael Gerica, father of Eagle Springs Elementary kindergarten students Averie and Emmarie, and first grader Ainsley, was chosen as grand marshal. Mr. Gerica served in the U.S. Army for 14 years and is currently a Sergeant First Class in the Army Reserves where he’s served for the last eight years. He was deployed to Bosnia in 2001, and served three tours supporting the global war on terrorism in 2009, 2010 and 2018.
Mr. Gerica said it was great to see all the support from so many people at the parade. “I found it very humbling to see the kids cheer and wave their flags along the parade route,” Mr. Gerica said. “I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity and all of the support.”
A product of Humble ISD, Mr. Gerica attended Timbers Elementary, Atascocita Middle School, and Humble High School, where he graduated in 1999.
Mr. Gerica felt his calling to military service at a young age. “I remember being eight or nine years old when the Gulf War was going on and seeing all the service men and women in action,” Mr. Gerica said. “I felt a lot of pride and a desire to serve as well.” Both of his grandfathers served after the Korean War. One was in the Marine Corps while the other was in the Army.
Humble ISD Police Department staff also took part in the parade.
Left: Eagle Springs Elementary dad and SFC Michael Gerica stands proud to serve as the Grand Marshal for the 2021 Veterans Day Car Parade at Eagle Springs Elementary on Nov. 11, 2021. Right: Eagle Springs Elementary Veterans Day Car Parade participants proudly wave American flags as they make their way down the parade route.
Summer Creek High School students participating in the “Students Helping Veterans: Big Heroes, Tiny Homes” program traveled by bus to nearby Liberty County to visit veterans at the Langetree Retreat and Eco Center. The site is where five tiny homes built by Summer Creek and Kingwood Park High School students now stand.
During the visit, students who are part of Summer Creek High School’s NJ-ROTC conducted a Presentation of Colors for veterans at the site. Students also presented baskets to veterans with laundry detergent and other household essentials as a show of appreciation for their service.
“We appreciate Humble ISD and all that the students have done to help veterans here at Langetree,” Barbara Lange, Executive Director of the Langetree Retreat and Eco Center, said. “These students and their act of volunteerism is going a long way to help veterans at our site.”
The homes are donated to Langetree to provide shelter to homeless veterans as part of a support program to help them get back on their feet.
“Words can’t express the gratitude I have for all the students who have worked so hard to build these homes for us,” Eddie Rodriguez, a former Marine who was a Tiny Home recipient in February 2020. Mr. Rodriguez lived in his tiny home after it was moved to Langetree and has since graduated from the veterans support program there.
Left: Summer Creek High School students and staff who participate in the “Students Helping Veterans: Big Heroes, Tiny Homes” program visit veterans at the Langetree Retreat and Eco Center in Liberty County on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2021. Right: Members of the Summer Creek High School NJ-ROTC conduct a Presentation of Colors ceremony to honor veterans at the Langetree Retreat and Eco Center in Liberty County.
Students and staff at Creekwood Middle School also celebrated veterans with a traditional ceremony in the school gym and candlelight vigil outside in the school’s Honor Garden.
The ceremony included a Presentation of Colors from students with the Kingwood High School NJ-ROTC and a visit from Congressman Dan Crenshaw.
Congressman Crenshaw stressed the importance of thanking veterans, but also suggested we should take our appreciation a step further. “It’s ok to thank veterans for their service, but it’s even better to tell them that you’ll never forget their sacrifice or the pain that our country has been through,” Congressman Crenshaw said. “When you say ‘never forget,’ it creates more of a connection.”
Also during the event, the Creekwood Middle School Honors Band played Marches of the Armed Forces and the Creekwood Middle School Bella Voce Chorus sang a variety of patriotic songs.
Following the gym assembly, participants gathered outside the school in the Veterans Honor Garden and lit candles as a show of support to all veterans.
These events are a sampling of the many Veterans Day events held across Humble ISD.
Left: Students and their families attend the Creekwood Middle School Veterans Day ceremony inside the school’s gym. Right: Congressman Dan Crenshaw addresses the crowd during the Veterans Day ceremony at Creekwood Middle School on Nov. 11, 2021.
Attendees honor veterans during a candlelight vigil at Creekwood Middle School’s Honor Garden on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2021.