Veterans Day is the day our nation sets aside to thank and honor the brave men and women who have served and continue to serve our country as members of the military, both in times of war and in times of peace.

Each one of us owes a debt of gratitude to our Veterans and active members of the military – for their commitment to our United States, for their contributions to our national security and for their willingness to serve people they will never meet across our great country.

For many members of our FCPS Family, Veterans Day hits close to home. Some of our employees are veterans themselves. Some of our employees are on leave right now, serving overseas and facing daily danger in Iraq and Afghanistan. And many other staff members have loved ones serving in the military and stationed around the world.

In this special Veterans Day issue, we thought it would be nice to list the names of all those who have personal connections to our Armed Services. With the help of supervisors and principals around the district, we worked to assemble as complete a list as we could. The sheer size of our school district made this a challenge. Please accept our sincere apologies for any omissions. If you know of people we have missed, please send an email to lisa.deffendall@fayette.kyschools.us or call the communications office at 381-4108 and we will update this edition of Stu’s News on the Web site.

We honor those who have fought and those who are fighting for the many freedoms we have. We thank all of our troops for their dedication and sacrifices, and offer this poem in their honor…

John Arebalo, Linlee Elementary, U.S. Army, retired Lieutenant Colonel

Michelle Armstrong, Cardinal Valley Elementary, brother, Matt Hisel, Marines Reserve

Nancy Bailey, Lafayette High, son, Clayton Bailey, U.S. Air Force

Gay Barnette, Tates Creek Elementary, son Clint Osborne, Army National Guard, just returned from Iraq.

LaVonna Baumgardner, Johnson Elementary, nephew, Jonathan Lamb, U.S. Army, serving in Iraq; nephew, Allen Michael Lamb, U.S. Army

Ivonne Beegle, Cardinal Valley Elementary, U.S. Army

David Bennett, Millcreek Elementary, brother, Jeff Bennett, U.S. Air Force; brother, T.J. Bennett, U.S. Coast Guard

Stephanie Boyd, Julius Marks Elementary, nephew, Nathan Perkins, U.S. Army

Brenda Branham, Squires Elementary, son, Corporal Truong Vinh, U.S. Marines

Kelly Breeding, risk management, son, Private First Class Walter Breeding, U.S. Army Reserves

Scott Brown, Henry Clay High, U.S. Army

Leigh Buckley, Southern Elementary, son, Captain Tyler Buckley, U.S. Air Force

Mari Burgess, Dixie Elementary, father-in-law, Harold Burgess, Jr., U.S. Navy, retired; father, Hiram Bailey, Sr., U.S. Navy retired

Jeff Burton, “It’s About Kids” Support Services, brother, Brad Burton, Kentucky National Guard, serving in Afghanistan

Missy Byars, Southern Elementary, brother, Mark Sherman, Air National Guard, serving in Afghanistan

Kaye Campbell, Southern Elementary, son Kenneth Campbell, U.S. Marines, serving in Iraq.

Velvet Capley, Southern Middle, nephew, Philip Ely, U.S. Navy; cousin, Chris Norman, U.S. Marines

Deborah Carmical, Glendover Elementary, cousin, Gregory Zornes, U.S. Army, leaving for Iraq

Edward Clement, Tates Creek High, Army National Guard, currently deployed

Col. Gregory Coker, Bryan Station High, U.S. Air Force, JROTC Instructor

Lee Ann Conner, Rosa Parks, brother-in-law, Edward Ginter, retired U.S. Air Force

Carmen Contreras, Cardinal Valley Elementary, son, Diego Contreras, U.S. Air Force

Cristin Crawford, Russell Cave Elementary, fiancé, Kevin Short, U.S. Marine Corps, has served two tours in Iraq and one in Haiti

Karen Crowe, Cardinal Valley Elementary, daughter, Ashley Davenport, U.S. Army

Allison Culbertson, Squires Elementary, husband, Logan Culbertson, Army National Guard, serving in Iraq

Lisa Deffendall, “It’s About Kids” Support Services, brother, Andrew Elliott, U.S. Army, just returned from Iraq

Roxa Dennie, Cardinal Valley Elementary, son, Staff Sergeant Robert Ensor, U.S. Army

Kelly Diamond, Mary Todd Elementary, U.S. Army Band with Army National Guard former member of U.S. Navy Band, left active duty in August 2007 to join the Troops to Teacher program

Amber Dickens, Deep Springs Elementary, brother, name, branch, just returned from Iraq

Larry Donithan, Cardinal Valley Elementary, former U.S. Army

Susan DuArte, Dixie Elementary, husband, John DuArte, U.S. Air Force, retired

Sydney Durham, Paul Laurence Dunbar High, Naval Reserves

Christi Elkins-Gabbard, Lafayette High, brother Joseph Elkins, U.S.Army, just returned from Iraq

Bonnie Embry, Rosa Parks Elementary, step-son, Sergeant Eric Embry, Army National Guard, serving in Afghanistan

Joy Farthing, transportation, son-in-law, Justin Gallaher, U.S. Army; daughter, Michelle Gallaher, U.S. Army; nephew, Harvey Logsdon U.S. Marines; nephew, Robert Farthing, U.S. Air Force; nephew, Charles Farthing Jr., U.S. Navy

Nannette Feltner, James Lane Allen Elementary, nephew, Kyle Wade, U.S. Marines

Rose Fields, Tates Creek Elementary, son, Josh Fields, U.S. Army, serving in Iraq

Sammie Fields, Harrison Elementary, grandson, Josh Fields, U.S. Army, serving in Iraq

Michael Fischer, Eastside Technical Center, son, Jacob Fischer, U.S. Coast Guard

John Foley, Lexington Traditional Magnet, Army National Guard

Amy Ford, Stonewall Elementary, son Specialist Patrick Ford, U.S. Army, serving in Iraq

Jenn Geldhof, Dixie Elementary, brother, Todd Holmes, U.S. Navy

Lora Graves, Clays Mill Elementary, nephew, Captain Clay Nichols, U.S. Air Force, leaving for Afghanistan

Jan Gum, Henry Clay High, and Jock Gum, Booker T. Washington Elementary, nephew, Travis Carper, U.S. Marine Corps, serving in Iraq

Rogie Hale, maintenance department, sister, Ina Peoples, U.S. Air Force, serving in Iraq

Susan Harmon, Athens-Chilesburg Elementary, son, Kevin Reynolds, U. S. Army

Anna Hazelton, transportation, brother, David Hazelton, U.S. Army, serving in Afghanistan; brother, Daniel Hazelton, U.S. Army, serving in Iraq

Lloyd Howard, Cardinal Valley Elementary, U.S. Army

Sergeant Brian Hunt, Henry Clay High, U.S. Army, JROTC Instructor

Kathy Isenhour, “It’s About Kids” Support Services, cousin, Sgt. Michael R. Miller, U.S. Army, has served in Iraq

Lloyd Jackson, Crawford Middle, Army National Guard, currently deployed

Anita Jones, “It’s About Kids” Support Services, son, Dustin Jones, Army National Guard, heading to Afghanistan in February

Jeanna Jordan, transportation, daughter, Tammy Presson, U.S. Coast Guard; son-in-law, Aaron Presson, U.S. Coast Guard

Susan Jordon, Yates Elementary, son, Captain Matt Jordon, Army National Guard, just returned from Iraq; son, Petty Officer-2nd Class Tim Jordon, U.S. Navy, assigned to the submarine USS Hampton, recently returned from a 6-month deployment in the Pacific.

Cindy Kewin, Lafayette High, niece Dianna Maldonado, Army National Guard, serving in Iraq

John Kiser, transportation, retired U.S. Marine Corps

Major William Larkin, Henry Clay High, U.S. Army, JROTC Instructor

Anne Leaumont, Tates Creek Elementary, husband Walt Leaumont, U.S. Army

Phil Lee, Paul Laurence Dunbar High, nephew Michael LeValley, U.S. Marine Corps, serving in Iraq

Anna Sue Litteral, transportation, son, Kevin D. Litteral, U.S. Army, serving in Iraq

Gail Little, Leestown Middle, brother, Staff Sergeant Alonzo Banks Jr., U.S. Army, serving in Kosovo

Darlene Ogata, Deep Springs Elementary, son, Lincoln Ogata, U.S. Navy, leaves for Iraq in December; son-in-law Lt. Branden Woods, U.S. Navy, leaving for Iraq in May

Kristin Marcum, Breckinridge Elementary, husband, Matthew Marcum, Army National Guard, served in Iraq

Chief James May, Bryan Station High, U.S. Air Force, JROTC Instructor

Ashley McClure, Athens-Chilesburg Elementary, husband Mark McClure Jr., Marine Corps Reserve, has served two tours in Iraq and will be redeployed again in February.

Stephanie McKenzie, Clays Mill Elementary, sister, Lt. Col. Shawn Reynolds, Air Force Reserve; brother-in-law, Capt. Lee Reynolds, U.S. Air Force, serving in Djibouti, Africa

Larry McQuown, transportation, Army National Guard

Nancy Mills, Tates Creek Middle, son-in-law, Mike Rollins U.S. Navy

Shannon Mills, Rosa Parks Cafeteria, Brother-in-law, Shaun Gamble, Army National Guard

Robert Moore, “It’s About Kids” Support Services, Army Reserves, served in Iraq

Dana Moses, Garden Springs Elementary, brother, Major Richard T. Anderson, U.S. Marines, serving in Iraq

Becky Mosolgo, Stonewall Elementary, cousin, Spc. Nathan Wright, U.S. Army, serving in Iraq

Mischelle Mullins, Rosa Parks, Gary Mullins, husband, retired U.S. Marine; nephew Victor Guanieri, U.S. Navy

Jennifer Nagle, James Lane Allen Elementary, brother, Lt. Michael Jylkka, U.S. Marine Corps, has served two tours in Iraq; sister, 2nd Lt. Christine Mazzocco, U.S. Marine Corps

Patti Owens, Cardinal Valley, brother-in-law, William Ball, U.S. Navy; nephew, Shawn Ball, U.S. Navy

Lisa Parker, Athens-Chilesburg Elementary, U.S. Navy, served in Desert Storm

Alisa Patterson, law enforcement, U.S. Army Reserves, presently serving in Mississippi

Tracy Payne, transportation, cousin, Josh Fields, U.S. Army, serving in Iraq

Cathy Pennington, “It’s About Kids” Support Services, son, John Michael Pennington, Army National Guard, serving in Iraq

Kealoha Price, Glendover Elementary, son-in-law, Spc. Adrian Wallace, Army National Guard, serving in Iraq

Jimmie Lou Rice, Paul Laurence Dunbar High, cousin, John Knox Mills, Army National Guard, serving in Iraq

Mary Richardson, Paul Laurence Dunbar High, son, Spc 4. Michael Richardson II, U.S. Army, serving in South Korea; husband Lt. Col. ret. Michael Richardson, served in Gulf War and Bosnia

Willa Riggs, Dixie Elementary, husband, William Riggs, U.S. Army, retired

Diana Shoop, “It’s About Kids” Support Services, Air National Guard

Diana Smith, Cardinal Valley, cousin, John Perry Ogles, U.S. Marine Corps

Rick Smith, maintenance department, cousin, Garrette Cannon, U.S. Army, serving in the Middle East

Pat Spaulding, maintenance department, nephew, Judd Conatser, U.S. Navy, serving in the Middle East

Velda Staags, James Lane Allen, grandson, Jeremy Anderson, U.S. Army

Betty Stephens, Leestown Middle, nephew, Staff Sergeant Brian Travis Spurlock, Army National Guard, serving in Kosovo

Judy Turner, Cardinal Valley Elementary, son-in-law, Fred Hearn III, U.S. Air Force

Nancy Wachs, Glendover Elementary, nephew, Warren Walker, U.S. Army, serving in Iraq

Ethel Walker, Tates Creek Middle, brother, Carl Edwards, U.S. Marines; brother, James Edwards, U.S. Marines; brother, Robert Edwards, U.S. Army; brother, William Edwards, U.S. Air Force; husband, John Walker, U.S. Army

Justin Watts, Lexington Traditional Magnet, Army National Guard

Norma Welch, “It’s About Kids” Support Services, husband, Bill Welch, former U.S. Army, served in the Korean Conflict

Estie Wells, Millcreek Elementary, nephew, Major Jeff Perry, U.S. Army, serving his third tour in Iraq

Joseph Wethington, “It’s About Kids” Support Services, Army National Guard, served in Iraq

Allen Wilford, law enforcement, former U.S. Navy

Kathy Willson, Food Service, son, J. Adam Willson, U.S. Navy

Cari Wlosinski, Jessie Clark Middle, brother, Doug Roye, Army National Guard, serving second tour in Iraq. (Mike Wlosinski, Lafayette High, is his brother-in-law.)

John Bryant, “It’s About Kids” Support Services, son-in-law, Major Richard Bartolomea - pilot U.S. Marine Reserves. Leaving for Iraq.

Sheila Sonka, “It’s About Kids” Support Services, son, Lt. Colonel Brian Sonka - US Army. Served in Afghanistan.