Silver Spur Holds Military Appreciation Day
• The Silver Spur School community got a treat last week when a Coast Guard helicopter landed on the playground to help celebrate Military Appreciation Day. Silver Spur Elementary School had its second annual Military Appreciation Day on Friday, Nov. 3.
Activities included a school assembly, songs presented by each grade level, and a Coast Guard helicopter fly in.
During the assembly, the National Anthem was sung by fifth graders Ryan Thurlow and Sophie Abe. 
The Redondo Union High School color guard presented the flags, while Boy Scout Troops observed. After that, students in each grade joined in singing an armed forces medley, starting with the kindergarteners and finishing with the fifth grade. Each grade sang a different military appropriate song.
Col. Sean Rucker, who is married to retired Col. Cathy Rucker, and father of Silver Spur student Megan Rucker and Palos Verdes Intermediate School student Amanda Rucker, presented the guest speaker, Col. Gerry Gleckel.
Col. Gleckel spoke to the students about his experience in the military.
Other guest that attended were family members who served or are still serving in the military. Next, some of the children that had military family members spoke about who they were honoring that day.
Mrs. Megan Heal explained where the military relatives served, what branch of the military they were in, and what their rankings were.
Afterwards, a group of the fifth graders, joined by their fellow students and the people in attendance, sing ‘God Bless America.’ At the end of the song, the Coast Guard helicopter flew in and landed on the grass field. 
All the students went to see the helicopter and its equipment. LCDR Joe Heal, father of Silver Spur student Jay Heal, LTJG Gus Castronovo, AET2 Michael Broadstreet, and AST3 Dave Munns all answered questions from curious student from the six grades. It was a great hands-on way to teach children about military veterans and their jobs.
