Township School honors veterans at inaugural assembly

BY LAURIE GORDON
STILLWATER — When it was his turn, Billy Saylor, a fourth grader at The Stillwater Township School, took the microphone and proudly introduced his father, William George Saylor, as a U.S. Army Veteran. Billy's father fought on the front lines in Panama during the Operation Just Cause Invasion.

Unlike the other parents, uncles, aunts and grandparents related to students at the school who had served in the armed forces, Billy's dad did not stand to be recognized: William George Saylor passed away, suddenly and unexpectedly, over the summer, at age 46. Determined to properly honor his father at Friday's inaugural Veterans Day Assembly at his school, Billy found the courage to stand before the student body and announce his father's name and branch of service.

The assembly saw both veterans related to students at the school and members of the community parade into the gym amidst applause from the students, teachers and family members present. Fifth grader Lilly Miller executed the flag salute then the entire room sang the National Anthem. Marissa Cramer, the school's principal/supervisor of Child Study Team, served as master of ceremonies and declared it an event to recognize, “the honor, selflessness and service of all veterans.”

U.S. Army Captain Amir A. Abu-Akeel addressed the audience and read President Obama's Presidential Proclamation, explained the history of Veteran's Day, then charged the students with thanking a veteran before they left the gym.

With all due pomp and circumstance, the anthem of each branch of the service was played as veterans stood when they heard theirs: Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Air Force and Marines. There was a curious reaction from the students when their own Maureen Riva, a special education teacher at the school, stood when they played the oldest official song in the United States Armed Forces, The Marines' Hymn. The only veteran on staff, Riva served in the United States Marine Corps from 1995 to 1997, and heads turned in surprise and admiration when she rose to the song to be recognized with the other Vets.

Assistant Principal Matt Robinson said the idea for the event began during a community-wide strategic planning meeting last year. Brittany Celentano, a social studies and science teacher at the school, subsequently helped write an action plan including this assembly which she said, “was intended to increase communication within our schol and extend student involvement with the community.”

She created a flyer that went home with the students and hande delivered it to American Legion Posts and VWF posts in the area. Though Celentano had wanted some military vehicles, Picatinny Arsenal said that though they could not provide them, they could send Captain Abu-Akeel to speak. “The attendance during Friday’s assembly was incredible,” Celentano said, “I was so happy that something that started out as just an idea turned into such a great success. I was honored to have organized this eventto honor our country’s heroes.”

Students read poems they'd written about what it means to be a soldier and each class in the K-6 school was part of performing a patriotic song. The event was powerful for the students and for the Vets.

“It's great to be invited to something like this,” said Herman Terpestra, a Wantage resident and Vietnam veteran. Other Veterans, like Judge Frederic G. Weber, didn't have to say anything. He simply stood with a smile on his face as his grandchildren, Marah and Jamie Witby, proudly introduced him.