Students, faculty and staff at Woodland Heights Elementary School gathered Friday morning for a Patriots Day ceremony dedicating a new flag pole, along with American and Texas flags. The 15-minute ceremony brought together school representatives, veterans organizations and Brownwood’s Cub Scout Pack 14.
The flag pole was purchased with donated funds from VFW Post 3278, Operations at Ease and the Camp Bowie Veterans Association. Each organization was represented during the dedication, according to KOXE.
A ceremony involving students and veterans
Members of Cub Scout Pack 14 raised the flags as part of the ceremony. Afterward, the flags were lowered to half-staff in recognition of the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
The event was held Friday morning, Sept. 11, 2026, and was reported by KOXE at 10:08 a.m. The dedication gave the Woodland Heights school community an opportunity to connect the new display with military service, remembrance and the meaning of the American flag.
Messages about service and community
Katie Cervantes, a second-grade teacher at Woodland Heights and a U.S. Army veteran, spoke about the symbolism of the flag and the service of those who protect the country.
“As veterans we love this flag. The red, white and blue colors are not just meant for decoration. The white stripes mean love and peace, the red stripes remind us of the brave heroes who protect our country, and the blue section is like the sky that covers all 50 of our states, which are shown by the bright stars. We re-dedicate this flag today to say thank you to all our country’s heroes. Every time you look at the flag flying outside of your school, remember you are safe, you are free, and you are part of the American dream.”
Janet Nash, an educational diagnostician for Brownwood ISD and U.S. Army veteran, also addressed those attending. She said her military service strengthened her love of country and compared the nation to a jigsaw puzzle in which every piece matters.
“My time in the military strengthen my love for country and I’m thankful for those who have and are currently serving to defend our freedom. What the flag means for you today, think about a jigsaw puzzle and how every piece is different and every piece of that puzzle is important. Our country is like that puzzle, we are all different but the American flag brings us together. You don’t have to be a grown up to honor the flag, you honor it every time you welcome a new student, share on the playground, and treat each other with kindness. Today, we will raise this flag to remind us that together, we might make our school and our country a wonderful place to grow.”
The new flag pole and flags now serve as a visible part of the Woodland Heights Elementary campus, with the dedication emphasizing remembrance, veterans’ contributions and kindness within the school community.