by Bea Peterson
One can’t help being “Proud to be an American” when the song is sung with the fervor of hundreds of HFCS elementary students during their annual assembly to honor veterans. This year US Navy WW II veteran Philip Garippa, Korean War Veteran Joe Ruggerio and US Army Afghanistan veteran Patrick Kelly were on stage for the event. Also taking part in the assembly was Susan Wells, a member of the Patriot Guard Riders and organizer of Stars for Troops, a group that collects stars from old American flags and sends them to service men and women as a token of remembrance.
The veterans spoke of their experiences, the students and teachers sang patriotic songs and Mrs. Burdick’s class described the evolution of Veterans Day. As always, it was a very moving and inspiring event.
