Leaning forward in the classroom’s rocking chair, U.S. Representative Dave Reichert had a message to impart: To live life with the heart of a servant.

“I decided my mission in life is to help other people,” he said.

“Any profession you pick, you can build around helping other people and always thinking of others.”

Speaking to students at Blackwell Elementary in Sammamish on Nov. 9, Reichert’s visit was part of the school’s celebration of Veteran’s Day. Participating in “Operation Caring Classroom”, Blackwell is participating in a nation-wide program to educate students about life in military families.

All area schools are closed Nov. 11 in observance of Veteran’s Day.

Visiting both a second and fifth grade class, the former King County Sheriff and Air Force Reserves veteran introduced one of his aides, army veteran Zack Guill. After serving tours in both Afghanistan and Iraq, the Olympia native was wounded in Dec. 2006 when an explosive hit the Bradley Fighting Vehicle he was in and damaged his leg. Standing with the support of a cane, Reichert introduced him to the class as a living example of the sacrifice soldiers make.

“Some have died for the freedoms we have,” Reichert said.

“The classrooms are participating in a variety of activities for Veterans Day” said Lake Washington School District spokesperson Kathryn Reith. The day culminated in a performance of the school choir, flag-waving, a solo trumpet performance of “Taps” and a slideshow featuring relatives of teachers and students who served or are currently serving in the military. In a nod to the diverse background of some of the district’s students, the slideshow included veterans from the armed forces of India, Germany and the former U.S.S.R.

Reichert served as a reservist and worked as a pneudraulics/hydraulics technician, specifically working on flight controls for the C-141 cargo plane at McChord Air Force Base. He achieved the rank of Sergeant by the end of his enlistment in 1976.

“I never had to go to war,” he told the class. “I was fortunate that way.”

Students were also given an opportunity to ask their guest questions, both lighthearted and serious. One fifth-grader asked what the word “Bipartisanship” meant to him, giving Reichert an opportunity to comment on what he called “the toughest week” in congress.

“In a lot of cases, Congress doesn’t work together,” he said. “Coming from a law-enforcement background, we’ll make sure we work together. It’s difficult to understand.”

His visit to Blackwell was in doubt as the debate over both healthcare reform legislation — which he voted against — and an abortion funding restriction amendment — which he voted for — stretched into the weekend. But Reichert preferred to keep the focus on Veteran’s Day and what it means to him and his fellow veterans.

“Sometimes it seems politics just gets in the way,” he said.