NEW LONDON, N.H. — Superintendent Winfried Feneberg is pleased to share that Kearsarge Regional School District held a virtual Veterans Day Ceremony today.
In previous years, Kearsarge Regional School District has held events at every grade level to observe Veterans Day. When it became clear that the district’s traditions of holding in-person ceremonies, musical performances and other gatherings to recognize Veterans Day would not be possible due to COVID-19 and social distancing concerns, Sutton Central Elementary School and Kearsarge Regional Elementary School at New London Music teacher Nicole Densmore organized a virtual ceremony.
The pre-recorded ceremony went live at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, and can be viewed by clicking here.
“We gather here today to bring about a better understanding of this patriotic holiday by focusing on our country’s strength and the citizens who protect it,” Densmore said during the video ceremony. “It is very important that we pause from our daily routines to reflect on our abundant blessings that we have as Americans. We are a great nation because of people working together. Today it is our privilege to say thank you to all of America’s veterans who work together to protect us. We would like to let them know that we appreciate their service and honor them for their sacrifice.”
Approximately 500 students and staff at Kearsarge Regional Elementary School at New London and Sutton Central Elementary School viewed the video Tuesday, and students at the schools also created thank you cards for area veterans. Students at Kearsarge were also encouraged to wear red, white and blue on Tuesday whether attending school in-person or remotely.
The video includes footage of students in kindergarten through grade five at Sutton Central Elementary School reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, and of Morgan Saucier, age 10, of New London and a Kearsarge Regional Elementary School at New London student, singing the National Anthem.
Daphne Henrichsen age 10, of Sutton and Lillian Holl age 10, of Sutton, both students at Sutton Central Elementary School, read reports about the meaning of Veterans Day for the video, Mateo Eerlingen-Avila, age 10, of New London and a student at Kearsarge Regional Elementary School at New London also gave remarks and Liam Duchesne, age 10, of New London and also a student at Kearsarge Regional Elementary School at New London read from a report about interviews with both his parents, who are both currently serving in the U.S. Army.
The video additionally recognizes local veterans including:
- John F. Spindler, U.S. Army
- William Tighe, U.S. Army
- David Downing, U.S. Army
- Carroll “Pete” Thomson, U.S. Army
- F. Robert Osgood, U.S. Army
- Alan Bykko, U.S. Army
- Joshua Serrin, U.S. Army
- Raymond Cleary, U.S. Army
- Brian Fernandes, U.S. Army
- Paul Anderson, U.S. Army
- Brian Duchesne, U.S. Army
- Jillian Duchesne, U.S. Army
- John Jones, U.S. Army Green Beret
- Robert B. Mattioli Sr., U.S. Army
- Sandra Nelson, U.S. Army
- Valleau Wilkie Jr., U.S. Army Air Corps
- Stephen Enroth, U.S. Army
- Steve Seney, U.S. Navy
- Mark Winter, U.S. Navy
- Steven J. Winter, U.S. Navy
- Charles F. Giles III, U.S. Navy
- Joseph Kealy, U.S. Coast Guard
- Lawrence Leboeuf, U.S. Coast Guard
- Donald Wright, U.S. Air Force
- William C. McKinely III, U.S. Air Force
- George West, U.S. Air Force
- Mary “Katye” Reed, U.S. Marine Corps
- Brandon Lull, U.S. Marine Corps
- Brian Lull, U.S. Army
- Cody Rowe, U.S. Marine Corps
- Troy Densmore, U.S. Marine Corps
- Charles F. Giles IV, U.S. Marine Corps
U.S. Air Force Col. William C. McKinely III, retired, speaks in the video on his experiences as a Veteran, and U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Mary “Katye” Reed gave a keynote address about her experiences serving as a Marine and the importance of resilience.
The video also features a tribute regarding the 75th Anniversary of the ending of World War II. Video footage for this segment was also part of Kearsarge Regional High School Class of 2020 graduate Jackson Kulacz’s Senior Project and Memorial Day 2020 Tribute.
The video concludes with a clip of Greta Hayes, age 5, of Springfield; Abigail Costanzo, age 5, of New London; Grace Scarpa, age 5, of New London; Crosby Wheeler, age 5, of New London; Camden Lavolpicelo, age 6, of New London; and Lucas Gould, age 6, of Springfield, all students in Elaine Houle’s kindergarten class at Kearsarge Regional Elementary School at New London, holding flags and thanking veterans for their service.
Kearsarge Regional High School also will be holding a modified Veterans Breakfast on Friday, Nov. 13 by dropping off “to-go” breakfasts bags throughout the Kearsarge District. Local Veterans were invited to sign up by emailing Kearsarge Regional High School Social Studies teacher Curtis Roddy at croddy@kearsarge.org before midnight on Thursday, Nov. 11 and pick up their breakfasts at the nearest district school to them. The breakfast will consist of a variety of pastries prepared by the school’s Culinary Arts program.
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