CES honored local veterans on November 10th with two ceremonies! The first for grades k-2 and a second for grades 3-5. At both, local veterans, who served as long ago as WWII, and active duty service members were our honored guests.
To open the ceremony CES principal, Mr. Rivers, spoke about how Veterans Day came to be held on November 11, and the significance of remembering the service of our veterans each year on this date.
“Today we honor all of our veterans…who unselfishly placed their lives on the line for our freedom,” he told the students.
Our veteran guest speaker was Catskill Elementary’s very own Mr. McMahon, who teaches physical education here and who served in the Marine Corps from 1993-1999, reaching the rank of sergeant. During his remarks, Mr. McMahon told the students that the best way to thank vets is to be good, because actions speak louder than words.
“When your teacher gives you an assignment, do your best, and be good. When mom and dad ask you to clean your room, help your sibling, or do a chore, listen and be good. When you are on the playground, play fair and play safe, be good. When nobody is watching, show some courage, and be good. When someone says something mean to you, don’t scream mean words back, be better than that. Be good. When the pledge gets read in the morning and the national anthem is played, be quiet and show some respect, be good,” he told the students.
Other speakers included CES Student Council members Gavin Near, Ian Fitzmaurice, Devin Fitzmaurice, and Emily Allen, and Lynda MacPherson from the Greene County Chapter of Blue Star Mothers, who spoke about how her organizations supports veterans by visiting the in nursing homes and sending care packages to troops stationed overseas.
A 5th grade trio of Taylor Rogers, Abigail Lane, and Mia Gottesman played “Yankee Doodle” on their instruments.
Then with Mr. Thibault on guitar, Mrs. Verdichizzi on the piano, and Mrs. Drewello on the drums, the school sang patriotic songs like “America,” “This Land is Your Land” and “Proud To Be An American.”