Dutch Broadway helps Building Homes for Heroes

Students at Dutch Broadway Elementary School donated $5,627 to Building Homes for Heroes thanks to their yearlong recycling efforts and the school’s third annual Walk-a-Thon, which also benefited the organization.

The Walk-a-Thon, organized by phys. ed. teachers Debra Bennett and Glenn Saenz, began with a moving tribute to local veterans representing posts in Elmont, Hempstead and Mineola. The veterans, who included two World War II Purple Heart recipients, were asked to share their names and a bit of information about their military service, and some struggled to hold back tears.

The ceremony also featured fifth- and sixth-grade band students playing patriotic music, as well as a bagpipe performance by Ed Geraghty, of FDNY Emerald Society Pipes and Drums. Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray took part as well, commending the Dutch Broadway students for their community service efforts and thanking the veterans for their service to the country.

Retired Marine Bill “The Can Man” Urianek was also on hand, and presented the organization with a check for $1,501.50, the proceeds of the students’ yearlong recycling efforts. Urianek visits the school each week to collect donated bottles, which he recycles, keeping the money in an account for the school. Urianek also presented Principal Walter Aksionoff with a new American flag for the school.

Following the ceremony, students took to the field to begin the Walk-a-Thon, while veterans enjoyed refreshments with administrators and faculty.