Veterans honored at Pine Island Elementary ceremony
They fought in Korea and Vietnam. Some never fought at all but proudly served in the military, ready to do so if asked. They served in the Navy, the Marines, the Air Force, the Army or the Coast Guard. They were the veterans who Principal Rob Mazolli, his staff and students paid tribute to Thursday.
Teacher Monica Renz began the program by welcoming the veterans to the school and leading those in attendance in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance after the Pine Island Boy Scouts had presented the colors. Veterans James Burns and Roy Martin then played harmonicas while the “Star Spangled Banner” was sung.
The formalities over, the second-grade class sang “God Bless the USA,” but this year there was an addition to the program as they had learned the sign language to accompany the singing of the lyrics.
“They have been working on this for so long,” said music teacher Gwen Fristenski. “They did a terrific job.”
Mazolli had a special message for the veterans seated in a place of honor in front of the entire student body at the school pavilion.
“Thank you to all veterans and their loved ones, thank you for your personal sacrifices,” he said. “Thank you for being a positive role model for our children, thank you for being our heroes.”
Student Ben Rich read a special letter of thanks he had written, and fellow student Aliya Jackson recited a poem entitled “American Soldier.” The entire student body sang a spirited version of Colonel Bogey’s “Grand Old Flag,” then the Eagles Choir sang “We Will Not Forget, following which Mimi Burns played taps to conclude the program.
The veterans and Pine Island Elementary ambassadors Connor Daniels-Brown, Sam Brown, Michelle Hardy and Taylor Newman were then invited to have sandwiches and soft drinks in the media room. Keith MacDonald, a 20-year veteran of the Air Force, was seated with Mazolli and two of the ambassadors.
“I am so thankful to the principal for having this event every year,” he said.
MacDonald, who flew C130 transport planes, and in November 1961 piloted the first “agent orange spray bird” in Viet Nam, noted there were many conflicts which few remember in which the military played a role.
“I flew a C130 in and out of Stanleyville in the Republic of the Congo trying to rescue Americans, Europeans and Congolese who would have surely otherwise been killed,” he said.
Garth Moreau, a financial planner in St. James City, noted that military service was a part of his heritage.
“My grandfather served in World War I, my father was career Air Force as is my brother, and I was a master sergeant and served two tours in the Air Force,” he said. “I had not been to the school’s Veterans’ Day ceremony before. It was a very humbling experience. I am very proud of our elementary school children. It was a wonderful event.”
Mazolli remarked how important it is to honor, pay tribute to and thank veterans.
“This teaches the children to value and honor our country and instills good moral values in them,” he said. “Do you know in all the years I have been here there has only been one fight? Our students are good kids and their parents deserve our support in helping them develop into fine citizens. That’s why programs like this are so important.”