School recognizes local hero for VETERANS DAY

SUBMITTED PHOTO - Sergeant First Class Douglas M. Falls is pictured with his daughter Gabby at a previous Veterans Day program at East Side Elementary.

Veterans Day holds special significance for East Side Elementary this year.

In December 2020, Sergeant First Class Douglas M. Falls died from a heart attack while coordinating international COVID operations in Indianapolis and a military training partnership in Africa.

Sergeant Falls always attended East Side Elementary’s Veterans Day programs in the past and was a shining example to students.

Falls was married to Stacey Falls, a 1st-grade teacher at East Side.

The school planted a tree on the East Side lawn in honor of Sergeant Falls, and this year an inside display honors him throughout November.

East Side Elementary will host a Veterans Day Parade at 10 a.m. Thursday, November 11th. The parade will begin at the corner of Turner and Olive St. The cars will move down Olive to Davis St. and then exit to the right in front of the school onto HWY 40.

Students will line the parade route, holding signs and flags while cheering on our East Side family Veterans. When Veterans reach the end of the route, they will be given patriotic-themed treats.