Students throughout West Hartford’s private, parochial, and preschools paid tribute to veterans this week.

Compiled from press releases

West Hartford Methodist Nursery School students created this baner for Veterans Day. Submitted photo

West Hartford’s public schools were in session Tuesday, and throughout town students met with veterans and used the day as a learning opportunity.

At West Hartford’s non-public schools, Veterans Day was also observed as a teaching opportunity.

Event the youngest children, students at West Hartford’s Methodist Nursery School, celebrated Veterans Day. The students created “a banner to thank the veterans for all they have done to keep our nation safe,” wrote teacher Lisel Moynihan in an email.

In observance of Veterans Day, Saint Brigid School’s (SBS) kindergarten class celebrated the contributions of veterans everywhere with especially beautiful lyrical and dance performances. In a show of patriotic solidarity, kindergarten student, Brooklyn Ward, led her classmates as they marched one behind the other in single file formation, around the school’s auditorium waving their beautifully made American flags. As a special treat, kindergarten teacher Patricia Cala’s young daughter Catherine performed an exquisitely choreographed patriotic ballet piece for the audience.

Korean War veteran Joe Ward visited St. Brigid School for Veterans Day. Submitted photo

Along with recognizing the importance of Veterans Day, Cala and her kindergarten students also highlighted the many men and women veterans of Saint Brigid School who also dedicated their lives to serving in the Armed Services of the United States of America.

Sitting in the front row, retired United States Army and Korean War Veteran, Joseph Ward, and Brooklyn’s grandfather marveled at the children’s performances as they sang  “I’m Proud to be an American” and “America the Beautiful.”

“They did an wonderful job. I’m so proud of my granddaughter’s kindergarten class for recognizing the importance of Veterans’ Day. It’s important for children to understand the sacrifices Americans have made to keep people in countries all over the world free,” stated Ward.

Beaming proudly, Principal Shevon Hickey also shared, “Indeed, for many students around the country it is a day off from school. Mrs. Cala’s and I wanted St. Brigid students to understand the significance of the Veterans’ Day holiday. Based on the audience’s response I’d say Mrs. Cala’s and her kindergarten students’ lyrical and performances achieved our goals.”

Northwest Catholic president David Eustis introduces Colonel Kelly Murray, USA ’83 (seated, left) and Commander Ray Fitzgerald, USNR, Ret. ’84 (seated, right). Submitted photo

Northwest Catholic High School welcomed two US veterans for a special Veterans Day assembly on Nov. 11, 2014. Colonel Kelly Murray, USA ’83 and Commander Ray Fitzgerald, USNR, Ret. ’84 addressed the students about their own experiences in the military and how that influenced their lives.

Colonel Murray entered active duty in 1987 with a Regular Army Commission in the Medical Services Corps, graduating as Distinguished Military Graduate from Drake University with a B.S. in Biology. She received her M.D. in 1992 from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and is presently attending the Navy’s Senior Service College in Newport, RI where she is earning a Master of Arts Degree in National Security and Strategic Studies.

Colonel Murray spoke about her role in the military as a physician on her deployments to Iraq and Korea – both in treating the sick and wounded as well as training both soldiers and civilians in a variety of medical areas. What she loves most about her work, she said, is that its impact lasts far beyond the time she spends treating a patient or training medical personnel; it changes the lives of those she helps heal and improves the lives of civilians in the countries she serves in through better-trained medical personnel and better-staffed medical facilities. Colonel Murray said her military service around the world has also taught her that while people might speak a different language, practice a different religion, or dress differently, they are all fundamentally the same.

Commander Fitzgerald was awarded a US Navy ROTC Scholarship in 1986 and graduated from the Catholic University of America in 1988. He was commissioned an Ensign in the US Navy that same year. Cdr. Fitzgerald was a US naval aviator from 1990-2013, flying over 3000 hours and making 200 carrier landings with planes including the A-6E Intruder and F/A-18 Hornet. He also was the Aviation Director for Navy Special Warfare Development Group from 2005-2008. Cdr. Fitzgerald is now retired from the Navy and is the founder and President of BroadBay Group, a Special Mission Aviation company.

Cdr. Fitzgerald talked to students about his experience landing planes on aircraft carriers as well as his work as a pilot for the Navy SEALS. He also spoke about the training his company provides and the technology it helps develop for the military, telling the story of one Navy SEAL who told Fitzgerald that the training BroadBay Group provided him saved his life and the lives of his team in the field. Cdr. Fitzgerald said stories like that affirm that his work and commitment to the military are making a difference in people’s lives.

“We were so proud to welcome back to Northwest Catholic these two great alumni,” said Northwest Catholic President Dave Eustis. “They embody the word ‘service’ and we cannot thank them enough for everything they have done for our country.”

During the course of the day, Northwest Catholic students also wrote personalized “thank you” cards to the dozens of Northwest Catholic alumni who are veterans.