DOBBINS AIR RESERVE BASE, Ga. -- Students from Bright Star Elementary in Douglasville, Ga. received a special treat Feb. 7, 2015 at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, an exclusive interview with the commander of the 22nd Air Force.
School counselor Beth Ruff described the students who met with Maj. Gen. Stayce Harris as the school’s CNN (Comet News Network) team.
“They were inspired by her accomplishments and we began to discuss how powerful it would be for our elementary students to hear her story during Black History Month,” Ruff stated.
The 10 students, along with parents and school faculty, met with the general in the 22nd AF headquarters as Harris greeted each person in the room with a warm smile and a hand shake.
The CNN team asked the general several questions ranging from what inspired her to serve, how she got to her position and other get-to-know-you questions.
One of the students asked Harris what it was like to be an African-American female leader.
“When you’re an Airman, color and gender don’t matter,” she said.
Harris answered each question with a welcoming smile and offered advice to the CNN team.
She explained how hard work and studying are what really got her ahead.
She concluded the visit with perhaps her most important message- “Always stay true to yourself.”
One of the parents in the room was inspired by Harris’ advice and he shared a personal story about himself that he had never shared before.
Ramone Meyer, father of Anayah Meyer, was an Army Iraq veteran.
One time while Ramone’s unit was out on patrol, they came across a little girl in one of the villages. Through a conservation held with her through his translator, Ramone learned the girl’s name was Anayah. The moment impacted him so strongly that the veteran named his daughter after the Iraqi girl.
The elementary students appeared to thoroughly enjoy their chance to meet the two-star as each one wanted individual photos with her along with their group photo.
“A lot of their questions ended up being off-script,” Ruff explained. “I know the kids will never forget this.”