Bishop Public School honors military families with Purple Star designation

It’s not every day a school gets a Purple Star designation. For Bishop Public Schools, it’s a first.

The event started at 12:45 p.m. on Monday with a welcome from Tierra Martin, a Bishop teacher, followed by the presentation of the flags by the 1st Battalion of the 78th Field Artillery, a performance by the 77th Army Band of the national anthem, a recitation of The Dandelion Poem by three Bishop students, a closing by Superintendent Howard Hamilton and a final song by the Band.

The designation is “a very high honor,” Hamilton said. “Statewide, there’s only been 11 school districts who receive this designation.”

According to Lawton Public Schools website, the Purple Star School Designation recognizes schools that show a major commitment to students and families connected to the nation’s military through the Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC). Schools that earn the award will receive a Purple Star recognition to display on the campus website in honor of students in military families.

LPS’s website said a campus will be honored with the Purple Star School Designation if it submits an application to the Director of Special Projects that documents the completion of the required activities plus one optional activity.

Martin said the Senate signed a proclamation for April 15 to be Purple Up Day.

According to the National Day Calendar’s website, Purple Up Day recognizes military children, encouraging everyone to wear purple representing all branches of the military and showing unity with each other.

Junior Santana, who’s daughter attends Bishop, is on active duty at Fort Sill. He said he was in Korea for a year. When his daughter, Lya, was born, Santana was on the border of Mexico for three months.

Gianna Santos, a fourth-grader at Bishop, said her father, Dwayne Santos, is a retired Army veteran, who is now a GS contract employee.

“I like how he helps people,” Santos said.