As part of its Veterans Day celebrations, Midview Local Schools recently honored local veterans with an unexpected gesture of appreciation for a third year. Midview High School Key Club members delivered custom yard signs and handmade cards from North and West Elementary students to more than 50 veterans’ homes across the district.
Local men and women who served in the U.S. military were greeted with a simple yet most sincere message: “Freedom isn’t free. Midview thanks this veteran.”
“My favorite part was seeing the reactions from the veterans. They were always excited to see us and really appreciative of us passing out the signs,” said Alex Decker, MHS senior and Key Club member. “I think the younger generation doesn’t always show as much appreciation as we should. This project helps spread that appreciation. When people drive by and see the signs, they can recognize which homes belong to veterans—and that’s something special for our community.”
Family members, friends, and neighbors nominated veterans for home delivery through a districtwide survey shared in early October. Key Club members organized delivery routes by neighborhood and spent several days visiting veterans’ homes, spreading appreciation and gratitude along the way.
For Joey Brown, also a MHS senior and Key Club member, one particular visit stood out. “Our first visit was to a Midview graduate, and it was really nice to connect with an alum. He was super grateful we were there, and we even took a picture together. His son also served in the military, and his godson was the one who nominated him,” he said. “Projects like these are great because they bring the community together. I play football, and our whole motto is ‘Rebuild the M.’ That’s not just about winning games—it’s about bringing Midview together as a whole. We’re more than just Grafton; we have people across six different communities, and projects like this help bring everyone together.”
Students also visited the Grafton VFW to distribute additional signs to visitors and to community members whose veterans may have preferred not to receive a home delivery.
To date, Midview students have delivered more than 250 signs and cards throughout the community since the program began.
In addition to this project, Midview Local Schools had the privilege of welcoming several local veterans, servicemen, and servicewomen to East Intermediate for the district’s annual Veterans Day Assembly.
Organized by East students and staff, the program served as a deeply meaningful tribute to those who have served and a humbling experience for everyone in attendance.
The event featured patriotic musical performances, a Veterans Day play, and a showcase of student-designed button badges created to honor local veterans—congratulations to this year’s winners, Kassidy Everett, Wyatt DiVencenzo, Brantley Crawford, and Penelope Zielinski. Students and guests also heard from guest speaker Jay Overy, U.S. Marine Corps Corporal (E-4), who shared reflections on his experiences and the meaning of service. Additional highlights included a moving performance of The Star-Spangled Banner by the sixth-grade choir, accompanied by Midview High School American Sign Language students, and a special POW/MIA table presentation by members of the MHS AFJROTC to honor service members who never made it home.
“Each Veterans Day, our district reflects with profound gratitude and pride,” said Dr. Frank Major, Superintendent. “The spirit of service runs deep in the Midview community, and we are honored to recognize those who have worn our nation’s uniform. Today and every day, we owe them our thanks—for their courage, for their service, and for the countless sacrifices they made in defense of our country and its values.”
All five of Midview's schools have been designated Purple Star Schools through 2026, recognizing the district’s continued commitment to supporting students and families connected to our nation’s military.