Veterans Day in the Classroom with UTR

November 23, 2022

This year, United Through Reading celebrated Veterans Day with 650 classrooms from preschool through high school seniors around the world with a virtual Story Time with a Service Member.  

United Through Reading spread the word to educators about the program via social media for weeks leading up to Veterans Day. Teachers from over 200 schools reported that more than 21,000 students benefited from Story Time with a Service Member.

Teachers were sent a video from our Storybank that was age appropriate for their grade to watch during their Veterans Day lessons. We absolutely loved hearing from the teachers about how their students enjoyed the storytime.

Shelly Stokes shared, “My third grade class and I from Wilder Elementary School in Sumter, South Carolina wanted to thank you for the wonderful book read aloud to us by Master Chief Jason Knupp. It was amazing and my students were delighted! It really made my lessons on Veterans Day and our armed forces so much more meaningful!”

Carol Kelley, a 6th grade teacher from Pennsylvania said “I just wanted to thank you so much for allowing my students to participate in this wonderful program. My students were so honored that SgtMaj Ashley Syke took the time to read to them. They all loved the story “Twenty One Steps.” One student summed up our class today by saying it was a feeling like he never felt before and it felt peaceful.”

Our team was excited that our popular Story Time with a Service Member event was just as successful virtually. The event is a fun, entertaining, and educational way for students to gain a connection to the men and women serving in the military. Learn more about special programs offered by United Through Reading at utr.org