Heroes honored in moving tribute at St. Peter School

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WARWICK — As part of the annual Catholic Schools Week celebration held in January, in which schools both locally and throughout the country emphasized the importance of faith-based education through special activities, a local school took the opportunity to focus on other important themes of Catholic Schools Week — leadership and service.
In a schoolwide initiative at St. Peter School in Warwick, one teacher made it her mission to give servicemen and women a special place of honor in the school.
One day of Catholic Schools Week includes celebrating the nation, which serves as a time to not only pray for country, but also to recognize all those who serve it. Second grade teacher Nancy Dunlap took this to heart.
Dunlap, who served from 1985-1992 in the United States Air Force, invited the entire school community to share a photo and details about a loved one’s service to be displayed near the school’s entrance where it still remains today, a month later. Dozens of students took this request as an opportunity to share the story of family who had served or are currently serving the country through various branches of the U.S. military.
The Wall of Honor showcases the many parents, grandparents, great-grandparents and even some St. Peter School teachers who chose to dedicate their lives to their country.
“It means a lot to me to see this. What an outstanding representation,” said Dunlap, emotional at the great response from her school community. “The students start to learn and understand, that wow, they served in the war, they served in the military, they kept us free. It makes me cry.”
Dunlap comes from a military family, sharing that her parents were recently buried in the historic Arlington National Cemetery, the nation’s most hallowed ground. She added that her time in the military was a foundation of skills and lessons that helped to prepare her for being a teacher.
“It taught me discipline. It taught me order. My first passion is the military and that brought me into my second passion — teaching,” she said.
“I love it and I love bringing it to my students. Every morning in my classroom we say the Pledge of Allegiance and sing a patriotic song, whether it’s “The Star Spangled Banner,” “God Bless America,” or “My Country Tis of Thee.”
She feels grateful that within the Catholic school environment, God has a special place in the classroom and that she is able to instill the importance of proudly serving God and country.
“It means a lot to me. It means a lot to me to be able to honor our veterans and honor our current active duty to let them know they have a support system.”