Colonel presents school with American flag flown in Iraq

by Amanda Kim Stairrett

Sgt. Hector Zeno didn't expect to get applause when he went to West Ward Elementary School on Tuesday morning.

He just went to see his daughter, second-grader Maria, participate in the school's "Remembering 9/11" tribute.  The students, who were dressed in red, white and blue or camouflage, gathered to watch as an American flag flown in Iraq was donated to the school.

Col. Bill Adams, West Fort Hood's Operational Test Command chief of staff, commanded a Forward Operation Assessment team from November 2006 to May. That team collected data and assessed equipment, systems and technology in Iraq and Afghanistan during its deployment.

While in Iraq, Adams flew an American flag over Camp Victory for the school, of which his wife, Maureen, is the principal.

As Adams presented the flag to several students who currently have parents deployed, he said that it was in honor of soldiers who died, those who were deployed and those, like Zeno, who were set to deploy.

Zeno is an aviation operations specialist with the 4th Infantry Division's Aviation Brigade.

Adams then led the group of students in applauding Zeno.  It was a "really touching moment," Zeno said after the presentation.

The colonel said an event like this was important because it allowed students an opportunity to remember deployed soldiers and their families.  Maureen Adams said of the school's nearly 500 students, 30 to 40 percent had parents serving in the military.

These kids are familiar with sacrifices. "They get it," Maureen Adams said.

The presentation instills a sense of pride in the West Ward students because their school, their parents and Sept. 11 were acknowledged, she said.

This is a school that is proud of its patriotism and reverence.  Photos of soldiers lined a main hallway of West Ward on Tuesday.  Students pledge allegiance to the American and Texas flags and sing the national anthem each morning.

Maureen Adams remembers that on Sept. 11, 2001, the students were participating in their morning ritual when the terrorist attacks began.  She had her hand over her heart when she saw the planes crashing into the Twin Towers on the TVs in the school's library.

The teachers and staff had to lead by example following the attacks, Maureen Adams said.

Natosha Fortenberry, the school's counselor, was one of those who led students during Tuesday's remembrance.  Students participated in a variety of individual and school-wide activities, including a march around the building.

Fortenberry is a former soldier herself, serving in the 1st Cavalry Division's 615th Aviation Support Battalion, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade.  She got out of the Army in 2001 to get a degree and began teaching in 2003.