Vernon Public Schools are in session on Veterans Day so that students can learn about veterans and their service and sacrifice, and in some cases to honor veterans with special programs.
At several Vernon schools, students bring relatives and friends who are veterans to school for special programs. By being in school, students have an opportunity to learn about the meaning of Veterans Day, the experiences of veterans and to talk to veterans.
“I think it’s better to be in school and celebrate Veterans Day than to be out and not celebrate,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Joseph P. Macary said.
At Vernon Center Middle School, veterans and their student and teacher escorts were seated on the stage for a program that included the history of Veterans Day, the tradition of the missing man table and a story about VCMS Teacher Matthew Reardon’s great-great-great grandfather, who served with Company G of the 8th Connecticut Regiment in the Union Army in the Civil War. His name was Michael Farley and he participated in multiple campaigns, including Antietam and Fredericksburg. Later he was captured and held at the infamous Andersonville Prison in Georgia where he suffered horrendous mistreatment at the hands of the confederates. To view Mr. Reardon’s emotional talk about his great-great-great grandfather, click here and here.
The VCMS band and chorus performed patriotic songs, and at the end of the program sounded Taps. (You can listen to Taps by clicking here.)
Afterwards, veterans and their families were treated to patriotic treats and breakfast.
At Lake Street School, students sang the service anthems for veterans and the patriotic song “You’re a Grand Old Flag.” Students then enjoyed a reception with their special veteran in the school cafeteria.
Rockville High School hosted a reception for veterans and a special assembly for the entire school. Several veterans spoke about their experiences.
The food for the reception was prepared by the school’s culinary students and featured spinach artichoke cups, caprese tartlets with goat cheese and balsamic glaze, chicken meatballs in a sweet, salty and spicy sauce, and brown butter toffee chocolate chip cookies topped with flake sea salt.
At Maple Street School, students won the Superintendent’s Veterans Day Challenge for the fifth straight year by creating the most thank you cards to be distributed to veterans at the state Veterans Home and Hospital in Rocky Hill, area nursing homes and restaurants where veterans are treated to special meals.
“I’m really proud of the school and my amazing students,” Principal Josh Egan said.
Maple Street students made 352 cards, which is pretty good considering there are only 246 students at the school. One student, fourth grader Maizy Gilleo, made about 50 cards by herself.
At Skinner Road School students created a Veterans Wall to celebrate its community of veterans. Also, veteran visit classes to talk to students about their experiences in the armed forces.
Center Road Schools kindergarteners and fourth graders sang Veterans Day songs on the morning announcements, and in class students participated in activities such as reading, making crafts and having discussions about the meaning of Veterans Day.
Northeast School students learned about thanking veterans for their service and honored veterans.