A special schoolwide assembly was held May 23 at Eyer Middle School for Memorial Day.

Social Studies Teacher and active Pennsylvania National Guard Master Sgt. Sean Boyle led the assembly by sharing a video and history of the U.S. Army which will celebrate its 250th anniversary this year.

Boyle also shared the story of a former Eyer Middle School student and Emmaus High School graduate, Ashly Lynn Moyer.

Moyer, 21, was a member of the 630th Military Police Company, 793rd Military Police Battalion on routine patrol when she was killed in a roadside bombing in Baghdad, Iraq, March 3, 2007.

Moyer was described as having “an adventurous spirit” and believed in supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Her memory lives on at Eyer Middle School in which Boyle encouraged students to “learn more about the life she lived.”

Boyle reminded the students to take a moment on Memorial Day during their family get-togethers and celebrations to remember Moyer and all of the American soldiers who died.

“Freedom is not free,” Boyle said. “It comes at a cost.”

Students Taim Jabbour and Mahi Babaria shared their essays they submitted to the Emmaus Rotary Club’s annual Flag Day essay contest. The theme of the essay contest is always “What the American Flag Means to Me.”

Eighth grade Language Arts teacher Lynn Dreisbach shared this year’s winner is Eyer student Sean Pennypacker. She read his winning essay to the assembly of students and staff.

Concert Band Director Carrie England led the students through several selections including “March On.”

Eyer student McGwire “Mac” Martucci performed a solo of the bugle call taps in which an audience of over 1,000 middle school students listened in complete silence.

Following the assembly, each grade level of students exited the auditorium and walked silently in single file guided by Eyer staff members.

The students passed the memorial in the courtyard dedicated to Moyer while students Daniel Santos and Panayiot Valavanis read names of fallen soldiers.