A retired two-star Army general who led his troops through Iraq met with Lincoln County School District teachers and staff Wednesday to inspire them for the upcoming school school year, which starts next week.

About 300 educators attended the meeting at the Lincoln Civic Center. Superintendent Mickey Myers also spoke.

Gen. Jeffrey Hammond, a former Southern Miss athletic director who now works in the USM Veterans Students Affairs office, commanded the First Cavalry Division during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He has received several awards, medals and commendations during his lustrous military career.

He said it required sacrifice and dedication to be an educator.

He began his presentation by saying that maintaining a functioning republic wouldn’t be easy, and throughout his presentation he stressed that students should be taught with Judeo-Christian values.

“If we don’t start properly educating our young people in values and basic human decency starting at home, the lawlessness that’s going on right now in this country will increase,” he said. “The founding fathers’ idea of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness will be all but something in the history books.”

Hammond asked, “Who’s going to teach our kids? Who loves humanity enough to give their life for people’s kids? The men and women of this room raised your hands and said, ‘Here I am’. If you’re teachers, you touch hearts and you change lives.”

Myers was emotional at times during his presentation, where he also stressed that working in education required dedication.

“You’ve got to care,” Myers said. “I know you’re underpaid. But it’s a profession unlike any other.”

Myers also said teachers should help students find something they’re good at and get involved.

“Every child wants to be a valuable member of the team,” he said. “Every child wants to feel important.”

Myers took some time to introduce the year’s new principals. Jay Raborn is principal at Bogue Chitto, John Shows is principal of West Lincoln and Terry Brister is principal of Enterprise.

LCSD students begin school Aug. 10, and Myers said the faculty was ready and excited to start the year.

“It’s always good to bring them back,” Myers said. “The new year is always exciting. It’s a fresh start.”