Students to Celebrate Veterans Thursday

Veterans Day comes early for Hamden students this year.

On Thursday at 10:20 a.m. students, veterans, and supporters will hold a celebration in the Hamden Middle School auditorium, located at 2623 Dixwell Ave. 

Students have been working on several projects, including “What it means to be a hero.” The ‘Hero’ project involved artwork and creative writing, some of which will be donated for display at the Fisher House of CT. 

Students have also been collecting donations of money to help build Fisher House next to the Veterans Hospital in West Haven. When completed, Fisher House of CT will provide temporary accommodations for veterans’ families while their loved ones are receiving care and therapy at the VA hospital.

In addition to the work on behalf of Fisher House of CT, students will participate in several activities with veterans.  Members of the Korean War Veterans, Military Order of the Purple Heart and other veterans will be on hand to speak with students in classrooms to share the importance of Veterans Day.

“Hamden students consistently ‘step up to the plate’ when it comes to efforts that honor our veterans,” said Dan Levy, principal at theHamden Middle School.  “They have been working long hours on their projects and have a genuine appreciation of what service to our nation means.” 

Levy, a Coast Guard veteran, noted that students of all ages throughout Hamden Public Schools have been working on these projects and have participated in the fundraising efforts for Friends of Fisher House CT, not just the Middle School students.  

A flag that was flown over a US Marine base in Afghanistan will be presented to the school during the celebration. Lewis Nescott, a Hamden resident, recently returned from serving overseas and brought the flag back with him. 

“Hamden is a great town and it is wonderful to see how the students respect and remember what veterans do,” he said.