When I was a senior at UA, I did my student teaching at Verner Elementary School and met a blonde headed 2nd grader with glasses by the name of Walt Gary! Walt was the first person that I had ever come across with Down Syndrome. He really was a blessing to me and helped me open up and show more compassion for everyone. I saw this piece on Facebook and the memories came flowing back into my head. He was always strong willed or bull headed, kind of one in the same. He would get pissed at PE time when it was time to go. He loved PE and hated to leave. He would go climb up a sweetgum tree and Dee Hicks, my coordinating teacher, would ask me to go get him. He would normally be about 12-15 feet up and sitting on a limb. I would ask for him to come down, he would refuse, and I would have to climb up and join him. Great memories!!
