Marshalltown Police Lt. Rick Bellile reads “Horton Hears a Who” to Anson Elementary third graders Monday. It was his last reading before he retires from the MPD. He has read to students on Dr. Seuss Day each year since 1999.
Anson Elementary School students enjoyed a day filled with “The Cat in the Hat,” “Green Eggs and Ham,” “The Lorax,” “Horton Hears a Who!” and many other classic Dr. Seuss books Monday.
Dr. Seuss Day has been celebrated at Anson for decades, and dozens of community volunteers came to the school to read to the students and discuss the books.
One especially touching moment came when Marshalltown Police Lt. Rick Bellile read to students for the last time before he retires from the police department. He has read Dr. Seuss books to Anson students each year since 1999. Several MPD employees joined teacher Heather Pals’ third grade class for Bellile’s book reading Monday.
Employees from the Marshalltown Fire Department, Marshalltown YMCA-YWCA, Big Brothers Big Sisters and radio station KFJB read to the students, as did retired MCSD teachers and Vic Hellberg of Hellberg’s Jewelers.
Dr. Seuss Day is held in conjunction with National Read Across America Day. March 2 is the late author’s birthday. For more information on National Read Across America Day, click here.
