Veteran Stories Resonate Across Generations

By Kendra Bobowick

How many languages do you speak? How fast are bullets? How do planes work?

Sandy Hook School students sought answers to satisfy a curiosity prompted by three veterans gathered in Teri Alves’s classroom Wednesday morning to speak about their time in the armed forces. Many other veterans also visited classrooms throughout the school this week.

Air Force captain and pilot instructor Bruce Alexander served stateside from 1965 through 1970. He held up a photograph he took of the T33s outside the window of a similar plane he was in.

“These are very fast planes and very fun to fly,” he told the students, explaining that the student pilot sat in front while instructors were seated behind them. Many pilot students eventually traveled to Vietnam, he explained.

How fast did those planes travel?

Mr Alexander smiled and told his audience, “They are supersonic; that’s faster than the speed of sound.” Giving the class a better grasp of just how fast the aircraft traveled, he said, “That’s about 700 miles per hour.”  One young man asked, “What if you told the students to go in the wrong direction [when flying]?”

Considering this question, Mr Alexander replied, “They train you not to,” then elaborated that teaching another person is a responsibility passed on to the instructor by another teacher. Students may eventually choose to teach also, he said. Another student wanted to know how planes worked, which broadened Mr Alexander’s smile. He said, “You learn the instruments, then controls, you learn the engines and the gears, and it’s just like you’ll learn to use a car.”

As students drew closer to better hear Mr Alexander, he continued, “Driving will be in [several] years, and you’ll learn about the engine, the steering, and you’ll probably even learn how to use the radio.” His grandson Scott Alexander invited Mr Alexander to the morning discussion.

Also sitting before the class was veteran Larry Linden, who hugged his granddaughter, Kira Flynn. He was drafted into the army and served from December 1965 to December 1967. Mr Linden spent his years in Germany on reconnaissance and was also responsible for nuclear weapons. Holding students’ attention was the thought of living in other countries such as Germany.

Describing her reactions after joining the Army first through the ROTC and then serving in the reserves, between 1978 and 1983, Donna Monteleone had graduated an Army captain. She lived in Korea (after the war) for some time, among other countries.

“It was fun but a challenge,” she said. “We have lived a lot of places and [the Army] started my journey.” Her twins in the classroom Wednesday morning, Nicholas and Marie Randle, sat at her feet and helped distribute the scrapbooks and other photo albums their mother showed the students.

Sandy Hook School acknowledges veterans each year, explained Principal Donna Pagé. “It’s not just awareness, it’s to honor the veterans.” Event organizer and PTA parent Lauren Elliot said,  “I have always been touched by doing this.”

 Many of the speakers who introduced themselves to classrooms this week were relatives of students, although an informal invitation had been extended to area veterans. Discussions were followed by a coffee and breakfast time for veterans, who were treated to a performance by the third grade choir.

Along with breakfast and refreshments were gifts provided by Sandy Hook resident JoAnn Hornak, who bottles inspirational messages. Providing another boost of morale for local servicemen and women were letters written by the children. The letters revealed students’ sentiments and gratitude. One letter began, “Dear veteran, thank you for defending our country…” Some correspondence will be mailed to the West Haven Veterans Hospital.