Christian Giminez, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who served from 2002-2006, kisses his daughter Savannah, a third-grader marked by a large red bow in her hair, on the cheek after she gives him a rose at the King Street School Veterans Day ceremony on Wednesday, Nov. 10. Principal Sam Ortiz smiles through his mask at the sweet moment behind them.
Quoting Benjamin Franklin, King Street School Principal Sam Ortiz stands before the students and honored guests and says: “tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn,” to explain why they have students so included in the annual Veterans Day tradition.
School officials, elected officials and honored veterans face the American flag at King Street School in silence while high school band director Mike Miceli plays the National Anthem on the trumpet.
After King Street School student Joao Pedro deFreitas gives his family friend Mark Morales a rose of gratitude, the U.S. Marine Corps veteran, serving from 2010-2016, returns the kindness with a tight hug.
The King Street School student body stands out of respect as the school’s choir sings “God Bless America.”
Trevor Buchanan, a U.S. Navy Riverine veteran who just came home from deployment four months ago, offers Oscar Martinez a fist bump after the King Street School fourth-grader gave him a handmade thank you note and picture during the appreciation breakfast after the ceremony.
Principal Rosa Taylor makes opening remarks at the Park Avenue School Veterans Day ceremony in front of the school on Friday, Nov. 5. Pictures of veterans related to students as well as books about veterans and American wars donated to the school by retired Port Chester Middle School teachers Hank and Isabelle Birdsall in memory of local veterans who died during the past two years are on display.
Fifth-graders Gabriel Rodriguez and Allen Galvez wear the Veterans Day medals they decorated for the Park Avenue School commemoration.
Bradyn and Alexander Tamucci, second- and fourth-graders, sit with their mom Tracy and their great grandfather Jack Weber, who served in the U.S. Navy from 1943-52, for the Park Avenue School ceremony.
Afghanistan veteran Andrew Datino of Rye Brook attended the Park Avenue School event and hung out with his daughter Natalie, a first-grader. He was a Navy Corpsman from 2011-16.
Park Avenue School fifth-graders sing one of the patriotic songs they had prepared for the special day.
Park Avenue School teacher and event organizer Jennifer Carriero-Dominguez reads off the names of 52 local veterans who died during the past two years since a commemoration was not held last year due to COVID-19.
Park Avenue School fourth-grader John Giordano and kindergartner Gabriella Giordano each picked up a book to take back to their classroom from among those that were donated by Hank and Isabelle Birdsall.
Park Avenue School instrumental music teacher Michael Johnson plays Taps on the trumpet in memory of veterans who have died.
Park Avenue School fifth-grader Carlos Hernandez proudly displays his Veterans Day medal.
Port Chester Board of Education Trustee Sharon Burke talks with veteran George Varbero who served in the U.S. Air Force in Vietnam from 1966-70. He has two grandchildren, Tyler and Luke Varbero, at Park Avenue School.
Teacher and Park Avenue School event organizer Jennifer Carriero-Dominguez (right) and Isabelle Birdsall, who donated the books about veterans and American wars, check out the labels pasted in the front of the books to see the names of the veterans in whose memory they were donated.
