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Hooper Ave Sticks Landing on All-Out Veterans Day Celebration

Black Hawk down photo by Susan
Students tour inside the Black Hawk helicopter that made a surprise landing at Hooper Avenue Elementary Nov. 4 as part of a grand Veterans Day celebration. Photo courtesy of Susan Nelson.

Nov. 4, 2022-- Veterans Day is one week away, Nov. 11, but with district schools closed for fall break next week, Hooper Avenue Elementary was not going to let an opportunity to honor its veterans fly by.

And so it was that a grand celebration took place this morning, including student performances, songs, patriotic attire and decorations, and guests of honor in the form of brave local veterans.

And that wasn't all, much to the surprise and delight of Hooper students.

After the indoor festivities, students and guests were ushered outside to the school's fields, where the crowd was treated to a live landing of a Black Hawk helicopter, piloted by Hooper Avenue parent Dave Otero. Video of the awesome "Black Hawk down" landing was captured by TRSTV, as well as Hooper teacher Richard Cicala (right).

After landing, students and guests were invited to tour the chopper. It was a fantastic, dramatic and worthy close to a morning spent honoring our veterans.

Hooper Ave first graders sign language
Hooper Avenue Elementary first graders not only sang "I Love My Country" for the guests and veterans in attendance Nov. 4; they also used sign language throughout the performance.