Aprogram at St. Rose of Lima School giving thanks and honoring veterans brought rounds of cheerful applause, goose bumps to the skin and to some people, emotional tears that could not be held back.
PHOTOS BY CHRIS KELLY staff Second-graders at the St. Rose of Lima School, Freehold, sing “Anchors Aweigh” as they thank the nation’s veterans on Nov. 11. Among the veterans on hand for the special celebration was Walt Zuber (r), of Freehold Borough, who is hugged by his grandchildren. The veterans who attended the program were the fathers, grandfathers and other relatives of students at St. Rose of Lima School, Freehold. The veterans found a warm welcome and a program of patriotic songs and educational readings presented by students that focused on the nation’s wartime efforts.
The event brought information, as well as a festive “parade style” mood to the Walter R. Earle Memorial Gymnasium at the school on South Street.
There may not have been marching bands, but there were youngsters garbed in red, white and blue outfits. There were no floats, just the spirited, sweet, resonant voices of students from the first to the eighth grade, waving handcrafted American flags as they sang songs familiar to all Americans and presented certificates of thanks to each veteran in the jam-packed gym.
Veterans on hand for the ceremonies represented World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and the Iraq War.
It was apparent on the faces of the veterans that the patriotic music triggered something deep inside, summoning memories of another time, another life, as students honored the veterans’ service as well as those who did not return home with them.
The program orchestrated by Principal Sister Pat Doyle was one the administrator believed was long overdue.
When asked why she felt the program of gratitude and honor was created, Doyle said, “Children in this generation don’t understand and appreciate what Veterans Day is really all about. Some of them don’t even realize it was once called Armistice Day.”
Education and honor were the tools she used to change that lack of understanding.
CHRIS KELLY staff U.S. Army veteran Peter Bellini (c) becomes emotional as he listens to pupils at the St. Rose of Lima School sing patriotic songs on Veterans Day, Nov. 11. Accompanied by musical choral teacher Ellen Jensen, the children began the program by singing “The Star-Spangled Banner” and then reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.
Student Council Principal Emily Higgins welcomed the guests and acknowledged that Veterans Day is set aside every year “to recognize and thank the many veterans who served the country to help make this country free and safe for all of us. Many veterans put their own lives in harm’s way in order to make the world a better place for everyone.
“Many veterans, too, served in foreign countries in order to help free them and make them safe. This meant that other children around the world could grow up with the same freedoms and privileges that we, as a nation, enjoy,” Emily said.
She noted that Veterans Day was formerly known as Armistice Day.
“It was called that because the agreement to end World War I was signed on the 11th hour of the 11th month — November of 1918,” Emily explained.
CHRIS KELLY staff Julia Panko performs patriotic songs with her fellow fifth-graders during a Veterans Day presentation at the St. Rose of Lima School, Freehold Borough. The children welcomed their parents and grandparents who had served in the military. The name of the holiday was changed from Armistice Day to Veterans Day in 1954.
“So it is with great pride and respect that we here at St. Rose of Lima pause to thank the many relatives of our students who have, over the years, served our country well,” she said.
The students performed “You’re a Grand Old Flag,” “Over There” and “Yankee Doodle” as well as songs to honor all branches of the United States military.
A human time line represented the Vietnam War. Students held up posters with various years printed on them while Student Council member Chris Rocco described the pivotal events of the Vietnam conflict.
Student Council member Victoria Di- Stefano offered information about each branch of the armed forces.
The first-grade’s contribution to the program was to sing “America the Beautiful,” led by Megan Stefanacci. Dressed in red and blue with a large white ribbon in her hair, the youngster sang the words to one of the county’s most endearing and moving patriotic songs with a voice seemingly more mature than her tender years.
The veterans were then presented with certificates of gratitude from their children or grandchildren.
Other Student Council members who announced the veterans’ names were Jessica Del Virginia, Jordyn Styczynski, James Taylor, Matt Ferguson and Francesca Marchese.
Students finished the program with a moving version of “America, My Home.” As a final gesture of appreciation, a group of students held up large posters with letters that spelled “Thanks.”
Eric Williams of Jackson fought in Iraq in 2004 and 2005 in the U.S. Army Signal Corps.
“You don’t see very many programs like this for veterans, so whoever arranged it deserves kudos,” Williams said.
His children, Killeen, 9, and Eric, 10, were there to thank their dad.
Joseph Dobrowolski of Colts Neck fought in Korea from 1952-56 as a member of U.S. Air Force. His grandchildren, Daniel, 11, and Amanda, 8, presented their grandfather with the certificate of thanks.
“It brought tears to my eyes,” the veteran said. Veteran Thomas Still of Freehold Borough, who fought in the Vietnam War, said he was moved by the performance and by the students’ gratitude for what the veterans had done. He attended the program with his son, Thomas, 11, a sixth-grader at St. Rose, who presented him with a certificate of thanks.
Still was in the U.S. Navy from 1965-67 and served in Vietnam as a navy pilot.
“The program moved me,” the veteran said, his eyes tearing. “It brought back a lot of memories, especially about the people who didn’t come back with me.”