Retired Gunnery Sgt. Nicholas Popaditch speaks to students at the “Take a Vet to School Day” event at Coronado Middle School in San Diego Nov. 10, 2011. Approximately 70 active-duty and retired veterans throughout the community shared their military experiences with the students and were recognized for their service. Photo by USMC Lance Cpl. Kevin Crist
| | SAN DIEGO (11/15/2011) - Coronado Middle School recognized approximately 70 veterans for their service to the country during the national “Take a Vet to School Day” event in San Diego, Nov. 10.
“Take a Vet to School Day,” sponsored by Time Warner Cable and The History Channel, honors veterans and allows them to tell their stories and educate students on why Veterans Day is celebrated.
CMS held a breakfast in Granzer Hall at the school for veterans, staff and visitors to start the event. After the breakfast, guests watched a 10-minute live news broadcast featuring the school's broadcast journalism team, KCMS, and veteran speakers, including retired Gunnery Sgt. Nick Popaditch, who is known for the Marine Corps emblem on his prosthetic eye after being severely injured in Fallujah, Iraq.
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Following the broadcast, the veterans went to designated first period classrooms to discuss their military experiences with students.
“This country is just amazing,” said Popaditch. “Iraq was a nasty place before we got there. People lived under a dictator. People were not allowed to speak out against him and if anyone would have done anything out of line, secret police would come and take their family, and they would have no rights.”
He explained that he loved being a Marine because he could tell terrorists they were not going to be a threat to innocent civilians anymore.
“I loved meeting Iraqi people and watching them start to have a chance at liberty, a chance at freedom and a chance at great lives like the ones we have in America,” he said.
After the classrooms, students moved to Coronado High School's Niedermeyer Field for a parachute demonstration by Tactical Air Operations, Inc., which is the official contracted Static Line and Freefall School of the Navy. Students, teachers and guests watched as 17 parachutists glided through the air and landed in the center of the field, ending the “Take a Vet to School Day event.”
For more information visit Take a Vet to School Day. 
Students sing “God Bless the USA” for the “Take a Vet to School Day” event at Coronado Middle School in San Diego Nov. 10. Approximately 70 active-duty and retired veterans throughout the community shared their military experiences with the students and were recognized for their service. Photo by USMC Lance Cpl. Kevin Crist |
By USMC Lance Cpl. Kevin Crist
Marine Corps Air Station Miramar
Provided through DVIDS
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