By Kristina Ridenour
STAFF WRITER
LYNWOOD — Living in today’s world, many children are left without good role models to look up to. Going to Craig Williams Elementary, the students are not faced with that problem. The school, named after Craig Williams, a local of Lakewood and a Vietnam War hero who died attempting to help a wounded comrade-in-arm, has its hero.
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Photos by Zion Publishing |
| Students watch in awe as Artist Manuel Barias unveils his painting of Vietnam War veteran Craig Williams to the school during its annual Veterans’ Day Program. |
Craig Williams Elementary School is located along the border of Lakewood and Bellflower and has 780 students. The BUSD Board of Education chose Craig Williams for its new name, the first in America to be named after a Vietnam war veteran. After the school reopened with its new name in 1987, it has since established itself as a top elementary school in more ways than one. It has earned recognition as a California Distinguished School and a Title I Academic Achievement Award Winner School.
Williams, upon his death, bequeathed all his school awards and war memorabilia from Mayfair High School to his father, who donated them to the school in 2003.
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| The tunnel of flags erected by Craig Williams Elementary School students during their Veterans’ Day celebration. The veterans walk through the tunnel as the students salute giving them honors and respects. |
The school, during its celebration of Veterans Day had a program honoring its hero, William Craig, and the other Vietnam War veterans. Participated by the students, teachers and families, it was a day of remembrance of heroic deeds of the military, in general, and the Vietnam war heroes, in particular. On that day the students sang their school song, whose lyrics: “A long time ago, in a faraway land, a brave soldier gave his life, for us he did sacrifice “touched the hearts of everyone and inspired the kids as they formed a tunnel of flags, for the veterans to walk through. Before this, there was a Posting of the Colors by the Mayfair ROTC and the history of Veterans’ Day read by the students.
As the last of the war veterans who were known by the students were listed, a guest, Manuel Barias, was introduced. He had seen a photo of Craig Williams at the office of the school and decided to paint it to honor the fallen hero. He presented the painting during the ceremony and gained much appreciation. After the presentation, there was a moment of silence and a salute was executed.
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| Showcase of Craig Williams memorabilia include football and baseball jackets from Mayfair High School, Awards of Recognition, medals for his outstanding service to the country and some memorable photos. Williams bequeathed all these items to his father, Harry Williams, who donated them to the school in 2003. |
The school continues to honor the legacy of Craig Williams by being a top-rated school following the BUSD mission: “Building Futures One Child at a Time.” They maintain their standards of excellence by keeping the parents involved and working to get students to their full academic potentials.
Craig Williams Elementary School is located at 6144 Clark Ave. in Lakewood. The objective of the school is to nurture the intellectual, physical, and emotional capacities of each student. Using state standards as a goal, the school empowers students to meet their full potentials and inspire them to pursue higher education. The school fosters positive character traits among the students and encourages them to become productive citizens, lifelong learners, and to contribute positively to the community and the global society.
For more information about Craig Williams Elementary School visit them at www.busd.k12.ca.us or contact them at (562) 804-6540. |
