Newtown Public Schools celebrated Veterans Day November 11 with a range of special events, from car parades to assemblies.

Both Head O’ Meadow Elementary School and Sandy Hook Elementary School began the day with flag raising ceremonies.

At Head O’ Meadow, veterans and students gathered outside the school to watch as the flag was raised, then the crowd said the Pledge of Allegiance and students sang “America the Beautiful.” Following the flag ceremony, students escorted their visiting veterans inside the school for a breakfast, organized by the school’s PTA.

As the Head O’ Meadow students and veterans ate breakfast, a slideshow of veterans’ photos played and later fourth grade chorus members sang patriotic songs, according to the school.

Sandy Hook School student Collins Holko had the honor of raising the flag at her school, with the support of her fellow Girl Scout Troop 50050 members and school custodian Kevin Anzellotti. As the flag was raised, students and visiting veterans watched from a nearby outdoor walkway at the school. After the crowd said the Pledge of Allegiance, everyone went inside the school to participate in a PTA-organized breakfast.

Decorations — such as red, white, and blue balloons and a large American flag — were on view at Sandy Hook School for the day and some families took turns taking photos with them.

At Middle Gate Elementary School, according to lead teacher John Sullivan, the school held a special “Mix It Up Day.”

As previously reported in The Newtown Bee, Middle Gate’s Mix It Up Days allow “Middle Gate students the opportunity to sit with other peers at lunch. The tables are labeled in the lunchroom and students receive a slip of paper with the color of a table as they enter. The students then go to that particular table so they never know with whom they will be eating lunch. The purpose of this event is to have [students] meet new people and improve intergroup relations by having them step out of their comfort zones and make new connections.”

For the Veterans Day Mix It Up Day, students invited veterans to the school’s lunch waves to eat lunch together and share in conversation.

While some Hawley Elementary School students took part in the Veterans Day events at Sandy Hook School, with Hawley’s younger students housed at the school for the year, others took part in the day’s events at Reed Intermediate School.

Both Hawley and Reed Intermediate School students stood outside Reed at mid-morning on Veterans Day, ready and waiting while holding signs that shared messages like “Thank you veterans” and “Happy Veterans Day.”

Just a few short minutes later, cars began slowing driving by for a car parade. Students cheered, waved flags and handmade posters, and jumped up and down as the cars drove by.

Despite rain starting minutes into the car parade, students continued cheering and shouting support for the passing cars and veterans.

Reed PTA member Sheila Miller coordinated the day with Hawley PTA member Jessica Ragusa. Roughly 60 veterans participated in the event, according to Reed’s PTA, and volunteers lined the parade route with balloons and personalized posters.

Each visiting veteran at Reed received a gift bag with treats, a poem, an American flag pin, and a handwritten thank you note.

In-School Broadcast

At Newtown Middle School, according to American Legion Post 202 Commander Donna Monteleone, a special ceremony was held in the school’s cafeteria and was broadcast to classrooms for all to watch.

Family members and veterans were invited to NMS for the day, members of the school’s orchestra and choir performed, and State Representative Mitch Bolinsky presented NMS teacher Phil Cruz, a retired US Army Major, with the Connecticut Veterans Wartime Service Medal, Monteleone shared.

Newtown High School held a Veterans Day luncheon and assembly, both hosted by the school’s social studies department this year.

“It was a beautiful thing,” said NHS Social Studies Department Chair and teacher Amy Deeb about seeing students, district representatives, and town leaders share lunch with local veterans.

Following the luncheon veterans were welcomed into NHS’s auditorium for the assembly. Members of the school’s Chamber Choir, NHS Singers, and NHS Wind Ensemble performed at the event. Speakers included Deeb, NHS Principal Dr Kimberly Longobucco, Superintendent of Schools Chris Melillo, First Selectman Dan Rosenthal, and Guest of Honor Retired Army Lieutenant Colonel and State Representative Martin J. Foncello Jr.

When he spoke, Melillo shared memories of one of his high school English teachers, who was a veteran. Roughly 35 years later, Melillo said he remembers his teacher’s character more than specific lessons from the class.

“Veterans make up the fabric of our community,” said Melillo.

Later Rep Foncello said he welcomed his fellow veterans to the event and “I salute you.”

“We each have our own stories to tell and I encourage you to take the time to listen,” said Foncello.

Veterans, Foncello reflected, are ordinary people who answered the call of God and country to defend America with their lives. He also said the community needs to make sure veterans have what they need.

Foncello also played a game with the veterans and students assembled, challenging them to name famous veterans while he shared clues. Some of the veterans were Jackie Robinson, Chuck Norris, and Brookfield First Selectman Tara Carr, who later spoke at the assembly.

When Rosenthal spoke, he shared that he is grateful local schools did not have the day off, so students could learn to better understand what being a veteran means. He also shared his gratitude for each of the veterans present for the NHS assembly.

Community Americanism Awardees

Later Carr and her husband Tony Carr, both of whom are retired US Army Lieutenant Colonels, announced the local awardees for the American Legion Post 202’s Community Americanism Award.

According to American Legion Post 202 Commander Donna Monteleone, since 2018 the local American Legion post has been selecting two deserving people who live or work in Newtown to receive the awards yearly.

“This award is given to someone who consistently, year after year, quietly goes about supporting our schools, our students, our town, and our community. Each in their own way, supports patriotism, love of our community and our country,” Monteleone shared in an email.

Last year’s awardees were John Taylor and Laura Taylor.

“This year, we are again awarding two new Newtown residents,” Monteleone’s email read. “One has served as a member of our school system, and one in local and state government. Both recipients are the sons of veterans and have honored their parent’s memory by continuing to do good deeds for our town and country.”

Carr and Tony Carr announced this year’s Community Americanism Awardees are Board of Education Secretary and retired NMS teacher Don Ramsey and Newtown State Representative Mitch Bolinsky.

Some points shared about Ramsey at the event included receiving awards during his tenure as NMS technology education teacher, his introducing students to military guest speakers over the years, his support and work judging for a Constitutional Quill writing contest, and his participation in events such as the local “Taps On The Housatonic” and various other Veterans Day and Memorial Day events in Newtown schools.

“[Ramsey] is now retired from the Newtown School system but has become a member of the Newtown Board of Education overseeing and establishing program, curriculum, and instructional policies. As a Board of Education Member, he has spoken publicly about the importance of patriotism and facilitated meetings that propose flag raising and flag etiquette for students at all levels,” a write-up for the award reads.

“Don is a huge supporter of our veterans, their families, and our military,” the write-up continues. “Don’s family has a proud military lineage going back to his great-great grandfather who served as a Union Soldier in the Civil War and who died in the Battle of Fredericksburg. His father and uncle both served during WWII in the Army Air Corps. His brother, Robert, is also a veteran who served in the US Army Band.”

When highlighting reasons why Rep Bolinsky earned the Community Americanism Award this year, Carr shared that he works tirelessly in his community, quietly supporting everyone in need.

“[Rep Bolinsky] is the son of a Korean War Navy veteran and a member of the Sons of the American Legion,” a write-up for the award reads. “He supports our veterans on many levels. He has on many occasions visited a veteran in need at his/her home, reaching out for health care for the infirmed and those in dire need. He has been instrumental in sponsoring and passing countless state bills concerning veteran support, stolen valor, veteran service officers, veteran medical care, and burial. [Rep Bolinsky] always makes himself available for all Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Armed Forces Day and other community events.

“Each year, before Flag Day, [Rep Bolinsky] organizes a collection of worn, unserviceable American flags so they can be properly retired. This is something he has been doing for many years,” the write-up continues.

Both Rep Bolinsky and Ramsey received awards and certificates at the event. Monteleone spoke briefly after the awards were announced, sharing her gratitude to the veterans present, the awardees, and the NHS community for hosting the event.

“Have a great Veterans Day,” Monteleone said.

Education Editor Eliza Van can be reached at eliza@thebee.com.