Dutch Broadway School students showed off their patriotism by wearing red, white and blue during the fifth annual walk-a-thon benefiting Building Homes for Heroes on June 2.
At an outdoor assembly, flanked by members of the American Legion Elmont Post 1033, The Legion Riders, American Legion Mineola Post 349 and the VFW Bellmore Post 2770, Principal Amy Buchanan encouraged students to always say thank you when they encounter a veteran.
“We thank you for your service to the land we love,” Buchanan said.
Physical education teacher Deb Bennett, who coordinated the event with physical education teacher Glenn Saenz, explained the mission of the Building Homes for Heroes organization, which builds and renovates homes for soldiers returning for Iraq and Afghanistan. Students also heard from Jim Vaughan, who spoke on behalf of his son, United States Marine Corp Corporal Kevin Vaughan. Kevin was wounded in Afghanistan in September 2011 and Building Homes for Heroes gifted him a new home in North Merrick in November of 2015.
Also taking part in the event was Korean War veteran Bill “The Can Man” Urianek, who assisted students with redeeming recycled bottles and cans at the school, which resulted in $2,250 for Building Homes for Heroes. Other donations included $250 for the American Legion Post 1033 Riders, $100 from the groups’ Ladies Auxiliary and $100 from its post’s members; $2,000 from the VFW Bellmore Post 2770’s Night at the Races and $1,200 from its’ post’s members. Students and faculty members also raised a significant amount of money, bringing the total donated to Building Homes for Heroes to more than $8,200.
Members of the fifth- and sixth-grade band and a special ensemble of talented student-singers performed a variety of patriotic tunes throughout the presentation to honor members of the armed forces, both past and present.
Photo Caption: Members of Elmont Post 1033 are pictured with Dutch Broadway Principal Amy Buchanan (third, right), Assistant Principals Brendan Alfieri (left) and Valerie Donoghue (second, right), physical education teachers Deb Bennett (third, left) and Glenn Saenz (fifth, left), fifth-grade teacher Melissa O’Brien (second, right) and Superintendent of Schools Al Harper (right).
Photos courtesy of the Elmont School District
