Seaford High School students visit National World War II Museum in New Orleans

Seaford High School students recently made the most of a once-in-a-lifetime experience, embarking on a trip to the National World War II Museum in New Orleans and listening to stories from veterans who witnessed that history first-hand.

The trip, which took place from Aug. 20-23, was part of the Gary Sinise Foundation’s Soaring Valor program, an educational opportunity for students and veterans to travel to the Louisiana museum. The American actor founded the nonprofit organization, which offers programs, services and events for military veterans.

Twenty students from Seaford went on last month’s trip, accompanied by chaperones. Joining them were 14 World War II veterans and their guardians. The veterans, according to the students, ranged in age from 94 to 103 years old, and are residents of the Northeastern U.S., including New York and Pennsylvania.

“I knew going into the trip that it was going to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Jayne Singleton, a Seaford High School senior, said. “I think I really took that in and understood that not many veterans are left.”

Welcoming the students and veterans to Louisiana were a musical band and the Victory Belles, a vocal trio performing WWII-era tunes and patriotic classics in three-part harmony. Afterwards, the visitors were given a police escort as they were bused to the Higgins Hotel in New Orleans.

Later that night, the students and veterans went to the museum for dinner and met Jason Redman, an author and retired U.S. Navy Seal, who spoke to the group about his experience in the military. Redman explained how he was injured in 2007 during a mission in Iraq, where he was shot in the face and arm. During his recovery, he wrote a note to his doctors and visitors, stating they should not feel sorry for him, but stay positive and determined.

The next day, on Aug. 22, students spent hours touring the museum with the veterans. Students said the museum’s rooms were set up to represent different countries, showing what happened in each area during the war, and the tour even featured an exhibit on the Manhattan Project, a secret U.S. government program during World War II that developed the first nuclear weapons.

Throughout the tour, the students heard veterans recount stories from their time during the war. According to high school senior Anthony Fernandez, his veteran brought his son as a guardian, who thought he knew everything about his father’s time in the war.

“The museum brought out so many different emotions and stories that weren’t talked about before the entire years that his son was with him,” Fernandez said.

Social studies teacher Michael Sheedy was one of the chaperones on the trip, and said the experience brought the war to life for the students. He added that students can learn a lot from reading documents and textbooks, but it’s not the same when you’re hearing it from a person who experienced it.

“I think it really just humanizes the whole situation,” Sheedy said, “especially with something so touchy, like war.”

Sheedy noted that students were respectful of the veterans, who sat down with them, relating their experiences and life lessons. Junior Paige Gregorek said she was impacted by the veterans telling their stories, and learned how hard it can be to be away from family during a time of war.

Senior Ava Caruso said her favorite part of the trip was hearing her veteran recount his time as a marine pilot during the war. She added that, during the flight home, the veterans received mail written by Seaford students, as well as students throughout the country.

Senior Megan Reder said one veteran got so emotional and started crying as he read her letter, which described how much she appreciated his service to the country.

“It was just really great to let them know that they’re appreciated, and that we hear them and we are just so proud of everything they’ve done for us,” Reder said. “It’s just so great to listen to the stories and take that home with us.”

Throughout the trip, students said they were surprised at how humble the veterans acted.

“They don’t see themselves as heroes, but we definitely do,” Singleton said.