Cliffdale Elementary
One day can open a world of possibilities.
At Cliffdale Elementary School’s Cultural Day, learning didn’t stay inside the classroom.
Cultural Day
Aviation, Robotics and Books, in One Day
The Children of Fallen Heroes Parachute Team brought aviation to the sky with canopy swooping and the Honor Heroes Flags.
Swift Robotics brought technology and innovation directly to students.
STEAM books were donated to the school library, while educators, first responders, volunteers and community partners came together around the next generation.
From That Day
The Footage
Chris Bess of Orbit Media filmed the day at Cliffdale.
The CFH Family
A Familiar Face in the Footage
The video features Master Sergeant Brandon Michael Schmidt, a retired United States Marine and a member of the Children of Fallen Heroes family.
Brandon enlisted in the Marine Corps in June 2003 and served multiple overseas tours and operations before retiring on September 30, 2023.
He had a deep personal passion for skydiving.
In the time after this footage was taken, Children of Fallen Heroes rallied around Brandon and raised more than $24,000 in support of him.
Brandon died unexpectedly on July 9, 2025, at the age of 40.
Brandon was part of that day and remained part of the Children of Fallen Heroes family. Today, the footage carries even greater meaning.
The Honor Jump
Standing With Brandon’s Family in the Sky
Today, Team Momentum brought family together at Skydive Coastal Carolinas for an Honor Jump honoring Brandon Schmidt.
Brandon’s wife, Nicole, and son, Jordan, took to the sky on tandem skydives, surrounded by Brandon’s closest friends, MARSOC brothers and sisters, and Team Momentum brothers and sisters — celebrating a life lived with courage, brotherhood, and heart.
Children of Fallen Heroes was there to capture this special moment and, most importantly, to let Nicole, Jordan, and Brandon’s family know that we are standing beside them.
Special thanks to Andy Plisko, Team Momentum, Brandon’s MARSOC brothers and sisters, Paraclete XP, Skydive Coastal Carolinas, Josh, and everyone who came together to honor Brandon and stand beside his family.
This is what family does. We remember. We show up. We stand beside you.
A Teacher Takes Flight
Learning Went Both Ways
International Teacher Tiffany Smith of Jamaica even experienced flight firsthand through a tandem skydive.
This is what happens when education, community and unforgettable experiences come together.
Partners & Participants
Who Made the Day Possible
- Children of Fallen Heroes
- Swift Robotics
- Skydive Paraclete
- Fayetteville Police & Fire Department
- Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office
- Skydive Coastal Carolinas
A classroom can extend all the way to the sky.
Bring STEAM to the Next School
Cliffdale is one day in one school. Support makes the next one possible—the aviation, the robotics, the books and the people who show up with them.
Explore CFH STEAM Programs →Read Badges to Books