Honoring Our Heroes: OVCA Veterans Day Celebrations

At Oklahoma Virtual Charter Academy (OVCA), Veterans Day is more than a holiday—it’s an opportunity to unite as a community and honor the brave men and women who have served our country. This year, we celebrated with a series of meaningful events that brought students, families, and staff together in gratitude and reflection.

Our Commitment as a Purple Star School

OVCA is proud to be Oklahoma’s first all-virtual Purple Star School, a designation we earned in 2022. This honor recognizes schools that go above and beyond to support military-connected students and families, who often face unique challenges due to frequent relocations and deployments.

As a Purple Star School, OVCA provides resources and programs that ensure military families feel supported and connected. Veterans Day gives us the chance to demonstrate that commitment in a meaningful way and celebrate the incredible contributions of those who serve.

Parade Watch Parties

The day began with Parade Watch Parties, hosted by Lisa Benn in Tulsa and Brittany Kegin in Midwest City.

At the Midwest City Enrichment Center, OVCA students gathered to create colorful signs to celebrate and show appreciation during the Veterans Day Parade. They proudly shared their messages of thanks, and many parade attendees expressed gratitude for the thoughtful signs.
Brittany shared, “It’s always fun to see students get creative with their signs and share their excitement and appreciation during the parade each year.”

Meanwhile, in Tulsa, our students demonstrated remarkable respect and appreciation for those who have served our country. They attended the Tulsa Veterans Day Parade and stood proudly for the entire 1½-hour event, despite the chilly weather. Throughout the parade, students greeted every veteran who passed by with a heartfelt “Thank you for your service.” Many went a step further, reaching out to shake hands and personally express their gratitude. Their sincerity touched the hearts of veterans and spectators alike, creating a powerful moment of connection and community.
Lisa reflected, “This act of kindness and respect reflects the values we strive to instill in our students—honor, gratitude, and service. I am incredibly proud of their dedication to making Veterans Day meaningful for those who have sacrificed so much for our freedom.”

Veterans Living Museum Outing

One of the highlights of the Month was an outing led by Amanda Pendleton at the Veterans Living Museum event. Students transformed a powerful history lesson into a hands-on celebration of service. They dove into activities like:

• Creating personalized thank-you cards
• Assembling patriotic veteran pins
• Crafting vibrant poppy bouquets

The event was made even more meaningful by the presence of our modern-day heroes. Veterans shared artifacts and stories of bravery while continuing their commitment to service by volunteering their time to guide other veterans through the complexities of civilian life.

Amanda noted, “It was a powerful reminder that their dedication to our country—and to each other—extends far beyond their military service.”

Virtual All-School Assemblies

We wrapped up the day with Virtual All-School Assemblies in the K12 Zone, where students and families came together to:

• Recite the Pledge of Allegiance
• Join in a moment of silence to honor fallen heroes
• Participate in “Chalk the Block”, decorating sidewalks with messages and artwork dedicated to veterans and loved ones who served
• Leave heartfelt thank-you notes for all to read

To all veterans and their families, thank you for your service and sacrifice. Your courage inspires us every day.

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