On Veterans Day, November 11, 2014, students at Goldwood Primary School and Kensington Intermediate learned what Veterans Day is about. At both schools, Rocky River veterans came and spoke to the students about Veterans Day and what armed service is like.
Kensington intermediate School’s Veterans Day observation began on November 5, when students placed flags in the school’s front lawn on Lake Ave. Says Principal Todd Murphy, “Sharlene Marty, our PTA President, and teacher Felicia Armitage worked on the plan, [in which] the third graders placed the flags in the shape of a heart. We plan to make this a yearly event. We believe the act of students actively placing the flags in the school lawn is very meaningful for students prior to the assembly on November 11th.”
Six days later, the flags greeted veterans Gus Santagata and George S. Brown, who came to speak to the third, fourth and fifths graders in a Veterans Day assembly.
The assembly kicked off with all students, teachers, and staff rising to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. Afterward, Mrs. Hudson's third-grade class, accompanied on the piano by Ms. Risko, led everyone in singing America the Beautiful.
Kensington Principal Todd Murphy welcomed the group and introduced the speakers, both of whom have important ties to the Kensington community. Gus Santagata, Army Specialist 5th Class, served from 1971-1979 in the Air Defense Artillery and did two tours in Korea (1973 and 1976). Mr. Santagata is also a Rocky River Crossing Guard. The other guest, George S. Brown, is a Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps. Sergeant Brown is the also father of Kensington fourth grader Stephanie. (Stephanie introduced her father, saying, "I am Stephanie and this is my dad.")
Mr. Santagata spoke about how Veterans Day became Veterans Day, going back to George Washington, who was himself a vet. Mr. Santagata, who worked at the NIKE missile system in Cleveland (living onsite 24/7 while he was stationed there) showed slides of where the missiles were stored, including the areas that are now Tri-City and Martin Parks. He concluded his talk with photos of himself in Korea in 1978 and the tanks he drove. Mr. Santagata also reminded the students that as Americans, we are all responsible for protecting our freedoms.