Kraft Elementary honors veterans through Field of Flags Initiative

In recognition of Veterans Day, Kraft Elementary School students and staff came together to honor the courage, service, and sacrifice of our nation's military veterans through the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Field of Flags initiative.

Spearheaded by Amber Atkins, a fifth-grade teacher at Kraft Elementary and Navy veteran, the project provided students with a meaningful, hands-on opportunity to learn about military service, patriotism, and gratitude. The nationwide DAV Field of Flags campaign encourages communities to display American flags in honor of veterans while raising funds to support ill and injured veterans.

To bring the initiative to Kraft Elementary, Atkins launched a social media fundraising campaign and worked with members of Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 3219 to generate support. To ensure that every student and staff member could participate, Atkins' family generously donated the remaining flags needed for the project.

As a result, every student and staff member at Kraft Elementary had the opportunity to plant an American flag on school grounds, transforming the schoolyard into a display of gratitude and remembrance during Veterans Day week.

“As a Navy veteran and teacher here at Kraft, it is incredibly humbling to look out and see nearly 500 flags waving in the wind, representing the unified heart of our entire school community,” said Atkins. “From our kindergarteners to our fifth graders and dedicated staff, everyone came together with immense patriotism to support and honor our nation's heroes. Seeing our campus transformed into this Field of Flags is a powerful, visual reminder of the gratitude we all share for our Veterans.”

“This experience, as a 5th grader, made me feel honored to show respect for our soldiers and our country. It felt special to be part of something so meaningful,” said Kraft student Jamie Ben.

As a designated Purple Star school, Kraft Elementary demonstrated its ongoing commitment to supporting military-connected students and families. The Field of Flags initiative reinforced that commitment while teaching students the importance of honoring those who have served our country.

Through this schoolwide effort, Kraft Elementary brought its community together to recognize veterans and demonstrate that every act of appreciation, no matter how small, can make a meaningful difference.