Friday, Feb. 15, 2002 | 9:15 a.m.
Palo Verde High School students understand deeply the meaning of patriotism since Sept. 11.
Teacher Barbara Edwards was aboard the plane that terrorists crashed into the Pentagon.
"Students who may not have understood about patriotism before that have a greater understanding now," Vice Principal Glenda Goetting said.
But that patriotism doesn't necessarily translate into a willingness to sign up for military service.
Teens who tried out an Air Force flight simulator during a recruitment drive Thursday said they learned an important lesson from their Cold War parents: Trust the government, but verify.
They have seen the government and its pledges: from Social Security to veteran benefits.
"We are not less patriotic," one student said. "We're just a little smarter when it comes to believing what the government promises."
Nevertheless, the students appeared eager to try out the Air Force Experience flight simulator, a brightly colored 18-wheel vehicle containing six F-16 simulators that has visited area high schools all week.
The truck made stops at Basic High in Henderson on Monday, Clark High on Tuesday and Centennial High on Wednesday and finishes today at Western. Students simulated takeoffs, landings and firing at targets.
"We are averaging 400 to 500 young people a day, and those are good numbers," Master Sgt. Lou Krejci, an Air Force spokesman, said. "We are not signing people up today, but those who show an interest are given appointments."
Krejci declined to say how the school recruiting promotion had gone this week or discuss any overall recruitment figures.
School officials, who had requested that photos of the students not be taken and that the names of students not be printed, say there is no lack of patriotism at Palo Verde.
"Our junior ROTC program is new and we have 165 students involved -- and that is good for a first year of a program," Goetting said.
Senior Master Sgt. George Lacombe, who runs Palo Verde's Junior ROTC program, said each member had to write a paper on one of the six core values set forth by the Air Force. Patriotism by far was the No. 1 subject.
"Many of the students wrote how they would be willing to fight and die for their country," he said.
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