Veterans Parade the Halls of Birch School

After a day off for Election Day, it was back to school for students at Birch School and they were joined by some very special guests. 

Veterans from our armed forces paid a visit to the school on Wednesday, part of Birch's Third Annual Veterans Celebration.

"We've all been so affected by the world today that we really wanted to make Veterans Day a meaningful experience for our kids," says Birch principal Kerri Schlissel. 

Veterans from as far back as World War II were represented, and Schlissel says the school invited not just those who have seen combat, but anyone who served their country, such as medical and communications personnel.

Like many events involving our nation's veterans, the day started with a parade.  This particular one was held in the Birch hallways.  Students lined the halls, decked out in red, white and blue, holding homemade signs. 

The artwork and words may have varied, but they all carried the same message: Thank You. Veterans marched up and down the halls with pride, high-fiving kids, and taking in this latest honor for their service to our country.

After the parade, veterans went to individual classes to talk to students about their experiences, and answer any questions they may have had.  Joseph Ambrosino is active with American Legion Post 1282 in Merrick.  He served in the Army during the Korean War, and paid a group of sixth graders a visit. 

Ambrosino says it's important for kids to recognize the sacrifices made by those who fought in wars decades before they were born.

"Children don't exactly know what happened in those conflicts, World War II, the Korean War," Ambrosino says.  "It's good to inform them and let them know the veterans did a great job over there."

Ambrosino's sixth grade 'troops' were fully engaged with his appearance.  Questions ranged from "Will there be a draft again?" to simply, "Were you ever scared?"

"It's really an honor for them to be in the war because they're protecting our country, and protecting us," says student Alec Deane, whose grandfather and great-grandfather served in the military.

Students and veterans soon reconvened in the auditorium, where a Q & A was held with Corporal Cristyan Valentine, who served in Afghanistan.  Valentine says he was thrown by the depth of some of the questions students asked of him, including having to try to explain why a 'small faction of people' in the world hate our country.

"I kind of had to ad-lib it out there," he said afterward. 

Cpl. Valentine says he never misses an opportunity to come to Long Island to speak to children, and speak of the pride he holds to be part of our armed forces.

"I love wearing this uniform, I love doing what I do," he says.  "Showing that our job means something, and that [the kids] appreciate that and take it in, it's great."

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