Troy schools celebrate Veterans Day with tributes, poetry, music, food

The schools of Troy Community School District 30-C took Veterans Day to appreciate and thank those who served or are currently serving in the United States Armed Forces.

They were popular events, attended by friends and family of students and staff.

One of those schools, Troy Cronin Elementary School, thanked their vets with a recital by its fourth grade chorus and a breakfast spread, enjoyed by the veterans and active duty military with their Cronin children or grandchildren and sometimes even great-grandchildren.

Cronin teacher and one of the organizers of the event, Kim Walaszek, said they were all pleased to be able to “honor the men and women who served our country. It’s important to thank them.”

Other Cronin students made cards and wrote letters to veterans in V.A. hospitals, and donations were brought in to be delivered to veterans homes and organizations that assist homeless veterans.

Troy Shorewood Elementary School held an assembly for its veterans that included songs sung by grade levels and poems read aloud. Also honored in absentia was U.S. Army veteran John Caruso, who is 102 years old. Caruso has great-grandchildren who attend Troy schools (Collyns, 5th grade; Cayden, 2nd grade; and J.P., 1st grade).

Troy Craughwell Elementary School held an assembly for veterans whose families attend or work at the school. The assembly included a reception with food and drinks, Joliet West High School ROTC students, representatives from Abraham Lincoln Cemetery demonstrating flag folding, and buglers playing echo taps. Students also presented a video about the branches of the military, and “America the Beautiful” was played by bagpipes at the assembly’s closing.

William B. Orenic Intermediate School students decorated the foyer with Veterans Day decor they created and invited veterans for breakfast, joining them for the meal. The school also held an assembly with performances from the band, choir, cub/girl/boy scouts and student council. A slide show of the veterans was shown throughout the assembly.

Troy Middle School celebrated by watching a video about Veterans Day, which included the reason T.M.S. honors its veterans on the holiday. Students completed an infographic, wrote acrostic poems that were placed in the hallways and created cards to send to members of the Armed Forces. The students also honored their family members who are veterans and active service members by watching a video presentation and viewing the Wall of Honor.

Students at Troy Hofer Elementary School lined the hallways holding flags as their veterans entered the school for a special ceremony. Each grade level honored a particular branch of the military and sang patriotic songs, and students presented the history of Veterans Day. Mr. Raschke, a Hofer parent, also began and ended the celebration by playing the bagpipes. The ceremony concluded with pictures of the guests with their Hofer students and a breakfast of donuts and coffee served by the Hofer Student Council.

Troy Heritage Trail Elementary School hosted a light breakfast for veterans and their HT students. Veterans enjoyed the opportunity to spend time with their students, and the students were excited to honor their special guest visitors. An all-school assembly was also held, featuring musical performances by all grade levels and art displays in the hallways.

Local businesses that donated food included Biggby Coffee, Donut Den, The Great American Bagel, Hive Kitchen’s NBBA, Home Cut Donuts and Shorewood McDonalds.