Yesterday, I had the privilege of meeting some really cool kids who invited me to witness a big event in their young lives.

These kids were members of the student council over at Wildflower Elementary who had recently noticed that the American and Colorado state flags in front of their school had seen better days. The student council stepped up to the challenge of replacing the flags and, ever clever, they raised money through a school hat day for new ones.

And not just any new ones: They used their funds to purchase American and Colorado flags that had flown over the Capitol Complex in Denver before they made their way to Southeast Colorado Springs.

After weeks of planning, all 300 of the elementary’s students gathered around the flag pole to witness the new flags take flight on the chilly morning of Feb. 6, 2008. (Check out the video I captured of the ceremony on PikesPeakParent.com.)

No, the ceremony didn’t attract local news anchors or crowds of TV cameras. And yes, a new flag isn’t necessarily HUGE news to most of our community.

But it was a HUGE success in the eyes of Wildflower Elementary, a Harrison District 2 school, which was proud of the leadership qualities and school pride their students exhibited in acquiring the flags. And it was a HUGE accomplishment for the student council members, who proudly led their fellow students in the Pledge of Allegiance as the new flags flapped against the winter sky. It was a reminder that even small successes make a HUGE difference for a child’s self-esteem and their self-confidence into the future.

Congrats Wildflower student council:
Hannah Cittadino, fourth grade
Lacey Grinstaff, fifth grade
Andrew Hurdorn, fourth grade
Faylisha Jeong, fourth grade
Kayson Player, fourth grade
Ayan Williams, fourth grade
Bayelica Wilson, fourth grade

Again, you can see the full video of the ceremony — including a few words from the kids — at PikesPeakParent.com.

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