School remained open, honored nation’s military on Veterans Day
Your Turn
Jacqueline G. Kraus
Guest Column

It was with mixed emotions that I read Dina Janela’s letter to the editor, “Shameful That Military Doesn’t Rate Honor,” in the Nov. 10 Suburban.

Coming from a family in which every generation has served in the armed forces and as the wife of a now-deceased Vietnam veteran, I can understand Ms. Janela’s feeling about a perceived slight to our nation’s military by schools not observing Veterans Day as a school holiday. However, I am also a school principal, serving the community of Our Lady of Victories School, Sayreville, and, therefore, I have a responsibility to observe this special day in an appropriate manner for the school community.

At one time Veterans Day was observed with large-scale parades, dedication of memorials and cemetery visits. To their credit, many communities continue these time-honored traditions, but it is done on a much smaller scale. It is to the shame of our nation that this day has become for so many a time for extended sales at the mall and is viewed merely as another day off, instead of as a time to honor those deserving our respect and gratitude.

Like so many areas of life, the responsibilities and values that rightly belong to the family are now left to the schools to teach and promote. In addition to all the academic subjects that schools must teach, character values have become part of the school curriculum. Our Lady of Victories School chose to remain open on Nov. 11 in order to honor our veterans and instill in our students the patriotic values that might otherwise be neglected.

On Veterans Day the students of Our Lady of Victories School presented a program made up of prayer, military anthems and student Samantha Satchel’s contest-winning essay titled “Thank You, Veterans.” Approximately 25 honored veterans from local Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and American Legion posts attended, as did local dignitaries Assemblyman John Wisniewski (D-19th) and Sayreville Mayor Kennedy O’Brien. Sgt. Robert Bruce, a Sayreville police officer and Army Reservist, was an honored guest speaker. Sgt. Bruce was called to active duty in Iraq in 2003 and spoke to the students about his time there. He thanked them for their support then and their continued support of veterans now.

Frank Staczynski, commander, VFW Post No. 4699, Sayreville, addressed the students, as did Danielle Olszewski, representing the VFW Ladies Auxiliary. An American flag was presented to the school by the VFW. The Rev. Michael G. Krull, pastor of Our Lady of Victories, spoke and blessed the gathered veterans. The middle-school students, accompanied on guitar by eighth-grade student Alex Kielmanski, closed the program with a rendition of “An American Soldier.” As they were leaving the gym, all students shook the hands of our guests and thanked them for their service to our country. Credit for this program goes to Mary Ann Fama, second-grade teacher, and Joann Walter and Chris Deibert who prepared the musical portion of the program.

Veterans Day at Our Lady of Victories was celebrated with respect, dignity and pride. This was a day better spent in school in this manner, rather than at home. Oh, a few parents would have made sure the time was spent appropriately. However, the majority of students would have watched television, played video games, shopped or just hung around aimlessly.

At Our Lady of Victories, we are proud of our vets and we are proud to be Americans.

Jacqueline G. Kraus is principal of Our Lady of Victories School, Sayreville