Shrewsbury Kids
While there have been meaningful and important observances of Veterans day throughout Monmouth County. The Shrewsbury Elementary School went above and beyond in making its celebration a multi-generational affair, with hundreds of people of all ages joining in honoring not only each of the veterans from the borough who has served in the military, but also their individual branches of service.
And in the end, each of the veterans present received a gift bag filled with homemade gifts each will treasure for a lifetime.
The annual event, in which all staff from Superintendent Brant A. MacConnell though teachers in every grade participate, began with a color guard comprised of boy and girl scouts leading the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance followed by the Shrewsbury School Chorus rendition of the national anthem. Following the anthem, the chorus also presented an Armed Forces medley honoring each of the branches of service and were thanked by Mayor Erik Anderson and other local and county officials.
Major Paul David Roman, US Army (ret), who served in the military 26 years, gave the guests and students a Profile of a Shrewsbury Veteran, and was followed by other officers and speakers including Command Sgt Major Scott Lewis speaking on the importance of Veterans Day.
Each of the guests received a program that named, not only each of the veterans related to staff or student, but also listing their service branches and their relationship, with many of the guests recommended as grandfathers, fathers. The students also praised others in attendance including Army veteran and former Mayor Donald Burden, Shrewsbury First Aid Squad and fire company members, as well as veterans now serving at Hackensack Meridian Health and staff members who are also veterans.
Guests also paid honor to the 39 deceased veterans who are relatives of students or staff members, with many having several family members who were veterans and are now deceased.
A highlight of the afternoon, however, were the presentations by the students to their veterans in attendance with gift packages students in every class have been working on for weeks. Each class focused its creative efforts in a specific manner, with preschool youngsters creating hearts and Kindergarten children making congratulatory and thank you cards. First graders put their hand prints on hearts for decorations to be framed, second and third graders made bookmarks with a Veterans theme, and six graders created Poppy Cards. Youngsters in 4th, 5th and 7th grades created poems for their veteran guests and eighth graders made word clouds.
Addison designed a card with the flag colored into a heart describing “The Land that I love” with her message to veterans, “Thank you for protecting us.” And Maureen added an eagle to the flag design and wrote “Thank you for taking care of us all.” Matthew drew a flag and wrote “the noise overhead. All you see is poppy red in the fields. All Alone.”
Student Laura Dassle presented her poem with a white background, a red rose and a blue background and wrote:
We must remember World War I and II
And we remember the flag red, white and blue
As our beautiful flag blows in the wind
We remember all that you did.
As we all stand together with our soul
We are now safe together and whole.
Several students took the word VETERAN and wrote their feelings with adjectives or nouns for each letter of the word. One student who wished to remain anonymous wrote from the soldier’s point of view:
V Vivid memories of my friends dying will always haunt me
E Eliminating friends everyday makes me want to cry. But I can’t
T Transporting me everyday to a place even more dangerous
E Enemies waiting for the right moment that they can make their mark.
R Remembering everyday leaves me with trauma
A Allowing the thoughts to pass through my mind and knowing they’ll haunt me
N Now I try to live a nice life but always will live with the terror of my past
S Shots in the distance make me wince even though it’s just fireworks.
Laila, who presented her creativity in red, white and blue. Wrote:
V Valued soldiers are very important to fight for our great and mighty country
E Enduring war to save peoples’ lives!
T Thanks for serving our beloved country!
E Exterminating people trying to take over our mighty country
R Reliable soldiers are great! They protect our country from bad, bad people
A Admirable soldiers help our great and loving country
N Noble and honorable people are a great great country
S Self-sacrificing for great America.
Madeleine Freeman concluded the program with “American Anthem” after each of the veterans in the audience was recognized and thanked.
The art classes under the direction of Ms. Fox also decorated the room for the event, and Mr. Peri led the students’ musical program. The Shrewsbury PTA provided contributions and refreshments with support and generosity from Starbucks in the Grove and Delicious Orchards.
