*PHOTOS* Hampton Academy and Marston Elementary School Honor Veterans During Memorial Day Assemblies

HAMPTON — Superintendent Dr. Lois Costa, Principal Ken Hawkins, and Principal Nathan Saddler share that Hampton Academy and Marston Elementary School staff and students honored local veterans during their annual Memorial Day assemblies.

Both schools held assemblies on Friday, May 24. The schools proudly welcomed active-duty service members and military veterans from the community as esteemed guests.

The morning at Hampton Academy included a Presentation of the Colors by Civil Air Patrol Cadets, presentations from each of the school’s five teams, and musical performances from the band and chorus

Scouts participated in a flag-folding ceremony with Hampton Police Chief Alex Reno, a retired U.S. Air Force Master Sergeant. The Hamptons American Legion Post 35 Commander Berk Bennet delivered the keynote address.

Grade 8 students served as the Masters of Ceremonies and introduced each of the presentations, including:

• “The Meaning of Memorial Day” by Team 6 Hampton
• “Memorials of Hampton” by Team 7 Hampton, which honors each of the veterans after whom various streets, parks, bridges, and playgrounds around our town are named
• “Memorial Day: Remembering Their Names” by Team 7 Academy, which provides an opportunity for the Hampton Academy community to submit names of family and friends who made the ultimate sacrifice to be shared and remembered
• Poems “The Last Letter,” “The Fallen of Vietnam,” “Footsteps of Heroes,” and “I’m Going to Miss You” read by members of Team 8 Hampton 
• An original poem, “A Beloved Farewell,” written by Team 8 Academy’s Cailan Field for her family, who served in the military

“The Star Spangled Banner” and “America (My Country ‘Tis of Thee)” were performed by the seventh- and eighth-grade band, and the seventh- and eighth-grade chorus performed a musical setting of the stirring poem “In Flanders Fields” by Dr. John McCrae.

The assembly closed with a performance of “Taps” by Grade 8 students Zavier LaPierre and Peter Furtado.

During Marston’s assembly, students honored veterans from Post 35 and the community. The assembly had a robust turnout with approximately 30 special guests in attendance.

Students shared poems, stories, original songs, and artwork for the guests.

Alison Griffin, Library Media Specialist, also presented and explained the White Table to students and school community as a way to honor fallen heroes. The White Table is one of many identical tables at VA medical facilities and U.S. military bases across the globe. Each is set the same way, symbolizing those missing or captured, and those waiting for their return.

Music Teacher August Carlson leads and organizes this event every year.

“Our staff and students work diligently each year to create these wonderful and respectful performances to honor our nation’s heroes for Memorial Day,” said Dr. Costa. “To see them use their talents to recognize our local veterans and service members puts a smile on every face. Thank you to our veterans for their service, all of us in Hampton appreciate all that you’ve done to keep our communities safe.”