William A. Staples, a U.S. Army veteran and the president of the Univesity of Houston at Clear Lake, introduces the fourth-grade class from Teague Elementary.
Months of Preparation Pays Off
With Perfect National Anthem Rendition
Nearly a year of preparation paid off for the fourth-grade class from Teague Elementary on Thursday when students sang the National Anthem in front of a huge Veterans Day crowd assembled at the University of Houston at Clear Lake.
The Teague fourth-graders, under direction of Santiago Carbajal, began practicing for their performance last December. Their rendition produced a huge ovation from several hundred in the audience, most of them service veterans.
The students were introduced by William A. Staples, president of UHCL and an Army veteran.
After the performance Staples presented flowers and gifts to Teague organizers, including Carbajal, counselor Camille Shock and Leitha Meier, a retired fourth-grade teacher from Teague.
Staples also paid tribute to Linda Fletcher, the Pasadena ISD Executive Director of Fine Arts.
After the performance, students, staff and their field-trip chaperones were treated to a hot-dog lunch.
Teague fourth-graders line the steps in the UHCL atrium prior to singing the National Anthem.
'O say can you see...' Teague students open the ceremony by singing the Star-Spangled Banner.
Looking on in approval from the front row: music teacher Jamie Homburg and fourth-grade teachers Mary Frances Moon, Linda Wheat, Gabriel Ortiz, Clayton Cauthen and Patty House .
Pasadena ISD Executive Director of Fine Arts Linda Fletcher receives flowers from UHCL President William A. Staples. Looking on are Teague staffers Santiago Carbajal, Jamie Homburg, Linda Wheat, Clayton Cauthen, Patty House, Ivonne McGuigan, Mary Frances Moon and Gabriel Ortiz.
An event organizer serves hot dogs to Teague students following their performance.
Combining lunch with a history lesson: Teague students discuss the background of the original 13-star American flag.
Relatives in attendance: (left) Brandon Bowman with his uncle, Michael Cronan, a Vietnam veteran; (right) Seth Medina with his grandfather, Robert Medina, a Bronze Star award winner who fought in Vietnam.
