Celebrating Our Veterans

Spring Forest Middle School students and staff honored 110 men and women who served our nation during the school’s 15th Veterans Day Celebration held Nov. 11.

This year’s community event, which attracted more than 30 new military veterans, was held on the red, white, and blue-decorated campus located at 14240 Memorial Drive.

A breakfast for area veterans and their family members was followed by a student-led 9 a.m. school-wide program. In addition to several SBISD Trustees, the special event guests included U.S. Rep. John Culberson and Texas Rep. Jim Murphy, both of whom addressed students and thanked attending veterans.

This year’s sponsor, Heritage Texas Real Estate, was honored during the gathering for its years of support. 

Since its beginning as a small campus gathering, Spring Forest Middle’s breakfast and morning program for area veterans and their families has grown into a praised and cherished community event in West Houston.

This year, the middle school’s related service project involved raising funds for the Texas A&M chapter of Patriot Paws, a student-run group that helps to train service dogs for wounded veterans. Chapter volunteers attended, along with service dogs. Spring Forest Middle students raised about $7,000 for the Patriot Paws group.

Also speaking were organizers with Operation Interdependence, a group that ships food gifts to service men and women serving around the world. Spring Forest Middle students and families have donated thousands of items for gift boxes. The PTA and school raised $3,000 for the group last year, too.

Navy Veteran John McLeod of Houston also speak to students across the Houston area on behalf of the Joe Foss Institute. He has served during the Cold War-era on Navy submarine hunters.

For more details on Veterans Day or to learn more, please contact Jana Gwinn at 713.251.4618.