July 9, 2025

IE COMMUNITY NEWS

El Chicano, Colton Courier, Rialto Record

Werner Elementary students surprise veterans

2 min read

iecn photo/ yazmin alvarez Students at Werner Elementary School in Rialto surprised more than a dozen veterans during a special assembly Nov. 10 in honor of Veterans Day.

iecn photo/ yazmin alvarez Veterans Day honorees: Private First Class John Parham, Marine Corps; Engineman 2nd Class Earl Opperman, Coast Guard; 3rd Class Petty Officer Daniel Valencia, Navy; First Lieutenant Leonie Palmer, US Army Nurse Corps; Petty Officer 2nd Class Jeqwan Williams, Navy; AWF1 Kyron Anderson, Navy; E4 Artillery Ruben Gomez, Army; Corporal Juan Ortega, Marine Corps; Private First Class Anthony Mahan, Army; Private Vanessa Gaheta, Army; Hospital Corpsman 3rd class Jason Sanders, Navy; Sergeant Maggie Finneran, Marine Corps; Andre Bono; Sergeant David Spero, Marine Corps; Lance Corporal Ernest Hyde III, Marine Corps; Sergeant Gordon Leary, Air Force; Sergeant Ruben Gomez, Army
iecn photo/ yazmin alvarez
Veterans Day honorees: Private First Class John Parham, Marine Corps; Engineman 2nd Class Earl Opperman, Coast Guard; 3rd Class Petty Officer Daniel Valencia, Navy; First Lieutenant Leonie Palmer, US Army Nurse Corps; Petty Officer 2nd Class Jeqwan Williams, Navy; AWF1 Kyron Anderson, Navy; E4 Artillery Ruben Gomez, Army; Corporal Juan Ortega, Marine Corps; Private First Class Anthony Mahan, Army; Private Vanessa Gaheta, Army; Hospital Corpsman 3rd class Jason Sanders, Navy; Sergeant Maggie Finneran, Marine Corps; Andre Bono; Sergeant David Spero, Marine Corps; Lance Corporal Ernest Hyde III, Marine Corps; Sergeant Gordon Leary, Air Force; Sergeant Ruben Gomez, Army

Students at Werner Elementary in Rialto got a first-hand look at courage and sacrifice during a Veterans Day assembly Nov. 10.

More than a dozen veterans — all family members of students and staff — received special honors as ‘Werner Stars’ and were celebrated with cheers and applause from youngsters for their time in the military.

One-by-one veterans introduced themselves and their children, grandchildren or family member ran up from the crowd to proudly give hugs.

One veteran, LCpl Ernest Hyde III, U.S. Marine Corps, received a standing ovation.

Hyde is a custodian at the school and was surprised with a certificate. Photos of him in service were enlarged and made into a poster, which will be permanently displayed at the school.

“It’s overwhelming,” he said. “Definitely a surprise, but it’s a great feeling.”

Werner’s Nov. 10 event marked the first time the Rialto school formally recognized veterans on campus. But the celebration did not stop there – students gave “thank you” notes to all in attendance and sent additional notes of support to former military personnel at VA Loma Linda and USO Ontario.

iecn photo/ yazmin alvarez Students at Werner Elementary School in Rialto surprised Ernest Hyde, the school’s custodian during a special assembly Nov. 10 in honor of Veterans Day.
iecn photo/ yazmin alvarez
Students at Werner Elementary School in Rialto surprised Ernest Hyde, the school’s custodian during a special assembly Nov. 10 in honor of Veterans Day.