A local Veterans of Foreign Wars post on Sunday honored three local teachers for instilling patriotism in their students through class work and community service.
Basinger/Sone Memorial Post 1003 in St. Martins selected Natalie Altheuser, a fourth-grade teacher at Thorpe Gordon Elementary School; Libby Halfley, a sixth-grade teacher at Lewis and Clark Middle School; and Chad Rizner, a teacher at Jefferson City High School (JCHS). They were local winners in their respective divisions: grades K-5, 6-8, and 9-12.
"We're lucky to have a community that accepts us in their classes," said post commander Phil Kalaf.
The trio of teachers will represent the local VFW post in the district competition. District winners then will be considered nationally at the VFW National Citizenship Education Teacher Award Contest.
Altheuser was nominated in part for leading her students in completing a service award by wrapping more than 3,000 "buddy poppies" onto Dum-Dum pops for the VFW to give out at the Christmas parade.
"All of our students involved had a really good time with it, and learned a lot in the process about veterans of foreign wars and disabled American veterans," Altheuser said to a crowd of about 50 at the ceremony.
She also has served veterans as a Legion Rider to welcome home returning Honor Flight members.
Halfley's students wrote letters to local servicemen through Operation Bugle Boy, and has raised money for Honor Flight, which is close to her heart because her grandfather was able to go on an Honor Flight before he passed away.
She watches CNN Student News with her students to see how the news affects them. "It also brings to light how lucky we are to live where we live," Halfley said.
In nominating Halfley, retired teacher Charlotte Dudenhoeffer wrote that they worked together for 11 years, adding: "She exhibited outstanding character traits and life values."
Rizner, in his 20th year at JCHS, was nominated in part for bringing students in his legislative seminar to the Capitol. They attended committee hearings, legislative sessions and interviewed lawmakers and lobbyists.
"I think the best way of honoring citizenship and liberty is to give the kids a chance to immerse themselves in it," he said.
In his leadership class, Rizner's students find a need in the community to address. The class has worked with Honor Flight and currently is helping the Jefferson City Animal Shelter.
"These kids will grow up to be the ones that are the community leaders, and a lot of times those folks that I see as being part of the citizenship don't get paid for that stuff, but they do it out of the goodness of their heart," Rizner told the crowd in St. Martins. "So Hopefully we're starting that idea of service and helping something bigger than themselves through the things we do at Jefferson City High School."
Anyone can nominate someone for the award; it doesn't have to be a VFW member.