Ahead of Veterans Day, Fresno Christian students filled the auditorium at People’s Church.
They were there for the annual Veterans Day Chapel.
Principal Amy Deffenbacher says it’s held every year as a way for students to honor those who fought for our freedom.
“I think that’s really important for our kids to hear because they’ve never experienced things like these veterans have,” Deffenbacher said.
Thursday, students heard from Gary Parnell.
As a standout, three-sport athlete in high school, Parnell had the opportunity to go to college on an athletic scholarship.
Instead, he became a paratrooper in the U.S. Army and fought in the Vietnam War with the 101st Airborne Division.
Parnell shared how he still has shrapnel in his right eye.
He was hit in an eight-hour firefight, and he went on to spend six months in the hospital after a land mine claimed part of his foot.
Despite being a Purple Heart and Bronze Star recipient himself, Parnell wanted to highlight Staff Sergeant Clifford Sims, who served alongside him.
During the war, Parnell watched as Sims threw his body on an enemy grenade, sacrificing his life for the lives of other soldiers.
That story stood out to sophomore Mya Mericle.
She made sure to go shake Parnell’s hand after the presentation.
“It was really shocking to hear about his comrade who gave up his life, and also just the injuries and how he spent so much time in the hospital,” Mericle said.
Parnell credited the Lord and his wife of 47 years for carrying him through.
Even though talking about the war is hard for him, Parnell said it’s important for students to hear.
“So many people gave their lives so they can be free now, so they got to appreciate what the past, what the veteran did in the past,” Parnell said.
In addition to Parnell, Fresno Christian reached out to its school community and asked them to send in pictures of family members who served in the military, and they were featured before and after as well.
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