Honoring Those Who Serve

By Laurie Borst

It was a chilly morning, November 9, when Sandy Hook School welcomed some 40 veterans to the school for breakfast in celebration of Veterans’ Day. The event began with Sandy Hook parent Bob Elliott playing reveille on the trumpet while head custodian Dennis Best raised the flag, as he does every morning.

Following the flag raising, student escorts showed the veterans to classrooms. Everyone recited the Pledge of Allegiance and the soldiers spoke with the students about their service.

In Teri Alves’ third grade, the youngsters saluted the soldiers, and had the opportunity to ask questions. Three soldiers visited Ms Alves’ class: Specialist Carl Bergquist, who served in Afghanistan, Petty Officer First Class Danny Kearns, who most recently served in Iraq, and Sergeant Jason Santeerre, who also served in Iraq.

Petty Officer Kearns, with a total of 12 years of service, first served as fleet sailor in 1978, and became a member of the Seabees.

Ms Alves asked the soldiers to share their thoughts on their service.

“I’m proud of having the privilege to protect you and your families,” Petty Officer Kearns said.

“Don’t ever forget September 11, 2001,” Sgt Santeerre stated. “That event inspired me to join, to protect our people and our nation.”

“After 9/11, when the bad guys hit the towers, that was the motivating factor for me to step to the plate,” said Spec Bergquist.

The vets were then treated to a delicious breakfast in the cafeteria, with choices from quiche to cereal to bagels.

Music teacher Maryrose Kristopik led Ellen Buckley’s fourth grade class in patriotic songs. She accompanied them on the guitar for “The Star-Spangled Banner,” “This Land Is Your Land,” “My Country Tis of Thee,” “America,” “Yankee Doodle” (Connecticut’s state song), and “Grand Old Flag.” She switched to the keyboard for “Those Who Served.”

The veterans ran the gamut from the oldest vets who served in World War II to the youngest who served during the current conflict. Carl Larsen, 81, served in Germany, France, and Belgium during World War II. James DeWitt, also 81, was a member of the Navy and saw action in the Western Pacific in World War II and was stationed in Germany during the Korean War.

The youngest vet in attendance was Spec Bergquist, 20, who is serving in the Army National Guard. This past spring, he returned from a one year tour of duty in Afghanistan.

Donna Monteleone-Randle spoke to the audience about the letter writing project the SHS students have participated in for the past two years. Two years ago, second grade teacher Carole MacInnes asked about writing letters to soldiers for Valentine’s Day as part of the writing unit the class would study in January.

Ms Randle has continued that tradition. Last year, several grades were involved in writing to soldiers. One of the soldiers was Art Fredericks, Charlie Company, 1-102 Infantry, who was serving in Afghanistan. In appreciation of the students’ efforts, he presented a flag, which flew over the base in Afghanistan, to SHS Principal Donna Pagé. The flag was beautifully framed along with other military insignia.

Since his return, Sgt Fredericks has been promoted to Command Sergeant Major of the 101st Battalion of the Connecticut National Guard. The battalion includes Alpha, Bravo, and Charlie Companies.

Sergeant Fredericks, his siblings, his mother, and his son all attended Sandy Hook School.

The event concluded with a slide show of photographs Sgt Fredericks took in Afghanistan.

A map hangs in the cafeteria with flags and pins showing where soldiers were stationed.

SHS parents Donna Monteleone-Randel and Lauren Elliott organized this stirring tribute to the many veterans who have proudly served this country.