While Memorial Day is one day to recognize and honor members of the U.S. military, one Wake County school celebrates military service all year long.
Located just an hour away from Fort Bragg, Lincoln Heights Magnet Elementary in Fuquay-Varina has a strong military-connected presence among their students.
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Approximately 10% of the student body has a connection to a family member in the military, which includes active, reserves, National Guard and veterans, and approximately 3% are connected to a family member currently on active duty.
And the military connection stretches beyond the student body into the school’s own administration.
Chris Dinnen is the school’s social worker and serves in the Army Reserves.
Dinnen has been involved with the military since he was in high school, working in behavioral health, which translates to his position at Lincoln Heights today.
“The military and our kids here just shows the overall country's population, and mental health has been kind of struggling in our country,” said Dinnen in an exclusive interview with WRAL News. “So I'm always advocating more mental health support. It's so important for everyone for just their general health and wellness.”
Dinnen balances his experience in behavioral health between the Reserves and the students at the school.
Lincoln Heights provides small-group counseling for military-connected kids. Dinnen also leads and works with several programs to provide support for kids needing “basic needs” such as food on the weekends or transitioning in housing.
“Soldier trauma and childhood trauma, it's still trauma, and while I have to tailor it a little bit, I think that it well prepared me for this role,” he said.
As well prepared as he is, Dinnen recognizes he couldn’t do it alone.
Lincoln Heights is one of 21 WCPSS (Wake County Public School System) recipients of the Purple Star Award, which is given to schools that provide exceptional service to military-connected families. This is the second year in a row the school has received this award.
And one Lincoln Heights administrative member stands out to Dinnen as an integral part of his role working with students.
Dinnen nominated Assistant Principal Jason Norton for the Patriot Award, an award given by the Department of Defense that recognizes supervisors who demonstrate exceptional support to their Guard and Reserve employees.
Norton said he’s honored to receive the award, but it’s nothing compared to the support he’s able to provide Dinnen and the students everyday.
“To me, it’s the obvious and right thing to do to allow space for him to serve,” said Norton. “It’s one small way that we can give back to him and others, because serving our country and children at the same time, I mean, deserves our deepest gratitude.”