Darien students honor America's heroes

U.S. Marine veteran Bruce Benedict, who has five grandchildren attending Royle School, shares his personal stories with the students, faculty and families in attendance at the Veterans Day ceremony. Photo: Contributed

With flags at the ready, the entire population of Royle School awaits the arrival of their guests at the Veterans Day ceremony. Photo: Contributed

Middlesex Middle School welcomed veterans and active servicemen from different branches of the military to the school for its Veteran's Day celebration. They told a group of eight graders about their many adventures in battle while serving in the U.S. armed forces. Middlesex eighth-grader James Fay tries Ernest Johnson's combat helmet on for size. Photo: Contributed

Craig Schorr, a commander in the Naval Reserves and the father of Middlesex Middle School seventh-grader Katie Schorr, talks to the students about his service on a submarine during the Gulf War. He also was deployed to Africa two years ago and served there for a year. Photo: Contributed

Hindley School fourth and fifth graders paid tribute to 23 veterans with ties to the Hindley community. Each veteran was escorted down the "Honor Walk" by a student. The veterans also answered questions from the students. A reception took place in the library after the ceremony so students and veterans could meet. Taryn Pardo spends time with her grandfather, U.S. Navy veteran Gary Pardo. Photo: Contributed

At Ox Ridge Elementary Schoolís annual Veteranís Day celebration, Phil Kraft, executive director with the National Veterans Services Fund, lead portions of the ceremony, which included the dedication of a garden honoring veterans. The recently completed garden was an Eagle Scout project, lead by Michael Cassidy of Troop 53 in Darien. Cassidy is a junior at Darien High School. Each of the five branches of the military ñ Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard and Air Force ñ is remembered by a commemorative stone with its emblem and motto and a flag. Participating in the dedication were, in front from left, Jackie Cassidy, Michael Cassidy and Kevin Cassidy. In back standing, John Rechi, Colleen Cassidy, John Sinon, Tony Richards with son Dean, Robert Tortorella, Grant Evans, William Bonner with daughter Avery, Phillip Kraft and Luke Forshaw. Photo: Contributed

Each year, Tokeneke School students, teachers and administrators take time to honor veterans and consider the sacrifices they have made. As part of the annual Veterans Day assembly, third-graders performed an acrostic poem using words they associated with veterans, and many students invited their own veterans - including fathers and grandfathers - to attend the ceremony. In the weeks prior to Veterans Day, each student was asked to write a few sentences about a veteran in his or her life. Those notes and pictures decorate bulletin boards throughout the school. Participating in the ceremony were, from left, Don Combs and Bob Raw, grandfathers of Hunter Ross; Col. Leo Dwyer, grandfather of Drew and Will Major; George Chieffi, father of George, Teddy and Genevieve Chieffi; Marc Williams, grandfather of Montgomery Hahn; Scott Tuck, father of Scotty Tuck; and Michael Harman, father of Hailey Harman. Photo: Contributed