VETERANS VISIT SOUTH ORANGE MIDDLE SCHOOL

In observance of Veteran's Day, schools throughout the nation participated in Take a Veteran to School program where students are linked to veterans who shed light on their experiences in service.

Students in South Orange Middle School teacher Arlene Sorensen's 6th grade ELA classes took part in the Take a Veteran to School program during the week of Veteran's Day.

Take a Veteran to School is a national endeavor designed to help link veterans with students, schools, and communities by allowing them to share their stories and experiences and receive thanks and praise for their services. Veterans who attended Ms. Sorensen's classes were part of the pen pal program linking each of them to students in the classes. Each spoke about his experiences as a member of the armed services, whether during war or times of peace, helping students understand the history of our nation.

One panel included Ray Coffee, who served during Desert Storm; Thomas Mooney, who served during the Korean War;  Ray Purlet, who served in Germany during the Korean War; Chet Lubeck, who was a POW during the Battle of the Bulge in WWII; Richard Lehan, who served during the Cold War in the Vietnam era; Simon Jeruchim, who served with the 5th Regimental Combat Team during the Korean War; and Marvin Feinberg, who served in the Navy in Pearl Harbor during WWII. Photo courtesy BJ Greco.

The students listened intently to the stories shared by the veterans and asked rapid-fire questions, which the panel members readily answered. "The entire experience was rich with learning and I am so happy to have been able to bring the program to my classes," Sorensen says. "Hopefully we can make this an annual event."