Haddonfield Middle School hosted 27 veterans and several active military personnel who spoke in classrooms of their experiences.
Haddonfield Middle School students got to hear from local veterans as part of the school’s Veterans Day program on Nov. 12, a tradition for 23 years.
Bill Shanahan, runner-up in this year’s race for commissioner and a local veteran from American Legion Post 38, spoke to the middle schoolers and shared his experiences in the National Guard, where he served on active duty from 1991 to 1999 and was deployed to Afghanistan from 2011 to 2012.
During his presentation, Shanahan showed videos of the kind of basic training all military members receive. For him and others, the most valuable aspect of their service were the intangibles.
“There’s no course for a lot of this stuff, it’s just teamwork, adaptability, perseverance, things that keep you moving in a specified direction,” he explained. “We learn mission, and that mission takes precedent.”
Veterans at the school had served in numerous capacities – from all of the country’s military branches – and also engineering, nursing and even finance. Several of them were at the school to help create a stronger connection with students and recall what they learned.
Travis Thomas, an eighth-grade civics teacher, was also one of the coordinators of the veterans event.
“This kind of brings it back down and grounds them (students) a little bit,” he noted, “and shows them the importance of service, the importance of putting country and fellow Americans before yourself. It reminds them that there are people who are willing to do that, and we all hold them in the highest regards.”
Principal Mike McHale agreed.
“I think it gives (students) a better respect for what our military veterans have gone through,” he said. “And in class, we learn about different wars and different eras, but they actually meet people who were there and hear their real stories, the primary sources for that time period.
“I think that’s invaluable.”
Sacrifice, putting others before self and the spirit of volunteerism were all common themes that were hit on the day of the school program. Active military members Lt. Christopher Paone and Lt. Dario Colombo of the U.S. Army both shared their experiences and how their visit played out for them. Both felt honored to be part of the day and learn from older generations of veterans.
“Being in an austere environment, it makes you appreciate the basic things that you take for granted in every day life,” Colombo observed. “Having a house over your head, food, water, being able to see your children and family members.” said Colombo.
“It’s not easy work, it’s hard work,” Paone emphasized. “It’s dedication, it’s long hours, it’s physical and mental stress, but you get to see the fruits of that when you come home and it’s appreciated or someone drives by and says, ‘Thank you for your service.’
“It kind of makes it all worth it,” he added, “to see the smiles on all these older gentlemen’s faces, to think ‘Okay, yeah, it is kind of worth it.'” ,” Paone added.
On Wednesday, Nov. 13, Central Elementary School students also honored veterans with a special flag ceremony on Nov. 13. They read the names of family members and planted a flag for each person who served.
