The Gratitude ProjectJune 1, 2017

“Gratitude makes sense of our past,brings peace for today,

and creates a vision for tomorrow.”- Melody Beattie

Honored EldersElders vinh dự

Room 33 Elders

Maria HurtadoTan Khue NguyenDavid HuathMartha GuzmanDuc LamDieu Ngoc LeYasmeen NguyenRodolfo MendozaMy Trang NguyenRocio BocanegraVinh NguyenSy Nguyen*Quyen NguyenTuan NguyenKhang NguyenDiem TranDinh PhamTho PhamDuy DoIvy TranChau Thanh NguyenMarina Quero

Johnny HoTrang ThachLuong NguyenJason Truong

Room 34 Elders

Chieu Xuan CaoTai DoCam Hanh ExcondeMike GergesDien Quang Bui*Danny Hieu HoangLuc Lien Nguyen*Hang Diep Hien HuynhDoanh HuynhAndy LePhu NguyenHung NguyenTommy NguyenKim Phung NguyenLananh NguyenJennifer Wong

Dorothy NiedzwieckeHuyen TranHong TangLotus GiangKiet Vo*Khang Manh Tu*Yen VuJames WongTracina Williams

Room 42 Elders

Tom HuynhRichard PhamSuong NgoLina LeHiep TranPhong NguyenKimmiez VuCat DoDiep DoAndy NguyenKendra NguyenThuy Nguyen

Honored Elder Veterans*Vinh danh những chiến sĩ lớn tuổi*

Valerie Del Carlo, TeacherMark Keller, TeacherTina Vuong, Teacher

Marcie Griffith, PrincipalLinda Lang Pierce, Photographer

John A. Murdy ElementaryGarden Grove Unified School District

Special thanks to…

Dự Án Về Lòng Biết ƠnNgày 1 tháng 6, 2017

“Lòng biết ơn mang lại ý nghĩa của quá khứ,đem lại bình an cho ngày hôm nay,vả tạo hướng nhìn cho tương lai.”

- Melody Beattie

Dự Án Về Lòng Biết Ơn là một năm trời tìm hiểu, trong đó các em nghiên cứu về Sức Mạnh của Lòng Biết Ơn. Sau khi phỏng vấn những người lớn tuổi trong gia đình và sáu bạn học cùng lớp, các học sinh trả lời qua hình vẽ và bài viết. Qua những bài khảo cứu, các học sinh sẽ tiết lộ lòng kính trọng của những thử thách và hy sinh, cũng như phát triển về lòng biết ơn của mình

The Gratitude ProjectJune 1, 2017

“Gratitude makes sense of our past,brings peace for today,

and creates a vision for tomorrow.”- Melody Beattie

The Gratitude Project is a year long exploration in whichstudents researched the Power of Gratitude. After interviewing family elders and six in-class participants, students responded through art and writing. Their reflections revealed a newfound respect for hardship and sacrifice, as well as a developing sense of personal gratitude.

“When I look at a class like this I say the future’s okay. World’s gonna be in good hands. I can see that.”

Lt. Col. Robert J. FriendTuskegge Airman and U.S. Veteran

WWII, Korea, Vietnam

As a Red Tail, Lt. Col. Friend flew his plane “Bunny” in protection of U.S. bombers during WWII. When other pilots didn’t respect him, he remained an officer and gentleman, just like his mom taught him. The most challenging part of war wasn’t racism or staying in tight formation with the bombers. It was the loss of other Tuskegee Airmen. We will never forget his stories of friendship and bravery. For 97 years, he has met obstacles with determination and a great sense of humor. Lt. Col. Friend inspires us to be grateful for our circumstances and to follow our dreams.

“People in the world belong to whatever country, whatever race. You are white, black, yellow, whatever.

Don’t ever let the war take place.”

Luc Lien NguyenInterpreter with U.S. Special Forces

Faith in God has motivated and guided Mr. Nguyen throughout his life-time. As a civilian, he worked as an interpreter for the U.S. Special Forces. Once, when he was given responsibility for a wounded enemy soldier, he shared his food and tent as he cared for him. Why? His faith taught him how to treat his fellow human beings. Years of hard labor in a communist re-education camp, seven attempts at escape, and five days of rowing a boat to Thailand were all made possible with help from “the Man upstairs.” His motivation has always been his family, faith, and the dream of freedom for all Vietnamese people.

“They had to make the toughest decision of their life to leave their family and everything they owned behind with hopes that you

would be sitting here today in this environment.”

2nd Lt. Dan BarlowU.S. Army Ranger, Vietnam Veteran

After Dan Barlow’s cousin was killed while serving in the Vietnam War, his aunt begged him, “Don’t let this happen to you!” Instead of backing away in fear, he signed up to be an Army Ranger. He was the leader who never asked his men to do anything he wouldn’t do himself. His stories of making friends with Vietnamese children touched us deeply. For many of us, those children to whom he gave candy and soda, and took on trips to the zoo could have been our parents. He reminds us to greatly appreciate our grandparents’ sacrifices and to always take the opportunity to tell them, “I love you.”

“A good citizen is always proud to serve his country.”

“Gratitude is the best thing a man can have.”

2nd Lt. Khang Manh TuSignal Corp. South Vietnam Veteran

Mr. Tu was 31 years old, a family man, and engineer when he was drafted into the South Vietnamese Signal Corps in 1968. He used his education to support the efforts of ground troops. After the war he spent three years in a prisoner of war camp. The North Vietnamese took his home, his business, and relocated his wife and six children to the countryside. We were not surprised that his greatest fear wasn’t death, it was communism. Eventually, Mr. Tu’s entire family was able to relocate to the United States under the Humanitarian Operation, or H.O. program. He is deeply grateful for freedom, family, and the opportunity to create a new life.

“When I got to the United States, my life changed a lot. I worked hard. I was prosperous and successful. To me,

the United States is paradise.”

Hai PhamWife, Mother, Grandmother, Artist

Mrs. Pham has been married to Mr. Tu for 56 years. Together they raised a family, fled communist Vietnam, and established new lives in America. Her resourcefulness and creativity in the face of extreme hardship is inspiring. As a young girl she stood out as a talented artist. As a young woman she provided for her family by planting potatoes and hand-painting women’s dresses. During the time her husband was in prisoner of war camp, she was only allowed to visit him three times a year. On those visits she would bring dried foods she had prepared. Today her art represents not the ugliness of war, but the beauty of life lived in freedom and gratitude.

“When old men in suits send young men and women off to war, you have to know. So pay attention to who you vote for

when you are old enough to vote.”

Andy McTigueU.S. Navy Seal and Vietnam Veteran

Andy McTigue grew up with a fear of water and dislike for school. That’s what makes his story so amazing. As a Navy SEAL he persevered through extreme ocean training and overcame his fear by learning to stay calm. When he was growing up, history was his least favorite subject. But then he not only witnessed history, he became a part of it. His SEAL team played soccer with children by day and ran dangerous missions by night. Today Andy McTigue and his dog Katie train service dogs for veterans with PTSD. His goal is to give former military men and women the ability to remain calm. He may once have been a bad student, but now he teaches us the responsibility of citizenship and helping others

Room 33 Scholars

Robert AparicioJazmin ChavezCat-Tien DoHan DoSergio Gomez Jr.Catalina GuzmanDat LamGeorge LeYathy LeAriana MendozaBritney NguyenHuyen NguyenGabriel NguyenKelvin NguyenBao Khanh NguyenMimosa NguyenAnderson PhamCeline PhamSam PhamTyler PhamAndy PhamNguyenJonathan QueroHuy TangJasson ThachPhuong Thuc TrinhKelsey TruongTeresa Nguyen

Room 34 Scholars

Catherine CaoJessica DoRikka ExcondeDavid GergesThien HoangTrung Hoang

Grace HuynhHilary HuynhJimmy HuynhKayla LeKevin LeThu NgoAngelina NguyenJessie NguyenKevin NguyenLindsay NguyenNathan NguyenJenny NguyenHy PhamShelly TangRich TruongJonathan VelasquezNha VoAnnette VuPaul VuRichard WongChloe WrigleyAaliyah Zamora

Room 42 Scholars

Eva HoAlex HoangCat-Anh HuaTina HuynhTiffany NgoAnh NguyenCharline NguyenJasmine NguyenKhang Nguyen Tam NguyenTiffany NguyenShanna NguyenTruong Tran

6th Grade Scholars