Herald Schools

Lynbrook students salute our veterans

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Red, white and blue balloons lined the gymnasium at Waverly Park Elementary School as students showed their appreciation for veterans by performing songs during the school’s “Take a Vet to School Day” celebration on Nov. 9.

Sixteen veterans were honored during the day as the students in different grade levels put on a show for them just two days before Veterans Day. On the gym’s stage, 12 students took turns discussing what veterans meant to them, and explained the roles of the many entities that protect our country, including the Army and Navy. On the gym floor, their peers in grades one through five sang for the veterans.

“I thought it was great,” said William Geimano, whose son, Nikolai, is a fifth-grader at the school. “I felt honored, especially in today’s times. We really appreciate it.” Geimano, who wore his uniform, served in the U.S. Army for 22 years.

The students in first grade performed “America,” while the second-graders sang “The Marines’ Hymn,” the third-graders gave their rendition of “The Caissons Go Rolling Along” for representatives of the Army, the fourth-graders dedicated “Anchors Aweigh” to the Navy and the fifth-graders performed “The U.S. Air Force” song.

Burton Jaffe, who was in the Navy for nearly three years, said it was his second time attending the Waverly Park event.

“They put a lot of effort into it, and we appreciate the effort,” said Jaffe, whose great-grandsons Cameron (first-grade) and Gabriel Lewner (sixth-grade) are in the district. “I think it’s the right way, that they appreciate their fathers, their uncles and their grandparents, and that’s appreciation, that’s wonderful. As you get older, you look for a little appreciation.”

At the end of the event, the students handed flowers to each of the veterans and performed “God Bless the U.S.A.” The veterans then each attended a designated classroom to share their stories.

“We are here today to honor these very special heroes,” Principal Lucille McAssey said. “These are the men and women of the armed forces who fought to make our country free, so we are here today to honor them.”