Apples, flags, singing, skits, food, teachers and faculty were combined for the Legion Auxiliary’s celebration of American Education Week. Auxiliary member Alvina Berscheid said they hosted the event every year. Apples bearing flags and poppies aligned the tables and a display of food welcomed teachers and staff to the event. Junior auxiliary members made cards honoring specific guests. One of the illustrated cards extended this greeting, “B: is for bus driver, U: is for unique, S: is for super drivers.” The younger members said they enjoyed the event and were excited to honor their teachers. Junior member Lexi Rose, who in second grade, said, “It is fun to meet our teachers again after school.” The youngsters then showed their praise for education with several skits and songs. In one, the members spelled out T-E-A-C-H-E-R-S, with a special meaning for each letter. They said that teachers are terrific, happy, special and extraordinary. “The teachers be nice to us,” junior member Ashley Ber-scheid said. An ongoing tradition Senior auxiliary members said that they have been hosting the teacher’s tea for more than 20 years. “We started this in 1982,” member Anita Hoefer said. “Before that we brought apples to teachers.” Hoefer said that the event was changed when the group wanted to do more to honor school personnel. Member LuAnn Marschel said they decided to have it at the Legion to get the professionals away from their jobs at the school. “We hold this for all school personnel, cooks, aides, bus drivers, anyone that helps in any way,” Hoefer said. “We have it here because it gets them out of school and in our territory. We give them lunch [to honor them].” The start The first American Education Week was held in 1921. Two years prior to the start of the celebration, the American Legion meet with the National Education Association (NEA). The Legion was concerned that 25 percent of their draftees were illiterate and 29 percent were physically unfit. The two organizations joined forces to put a national emphasis on education. “We have the event because they do so much for the children. Each year they do so much more … and more … and more,” Berscheid said.
