RRMS Students Mark Veterans Day
On Wednesday, November 9, eighth grade students at Rocky River Middle School marked Veterans Day by learning from a veteran. This veteran, 1LT Frank O’Grady, US Air Force, is also a tutor at the Middle School, student council advisor, and advisor for National History Day.
Mr. O’Grady wore his flight suit and held up a model of the T-37 jet he flew as a USAF jet pilot. He has done this presentation annually for a number of years, and students react well to his stories of flying, he says. “Students are always interested in what it is like to fly jets in the U.S. Air Force. I give them a demonstration [using the model] of a loop, aileron roll, barrel roll and spin recovery. We talk about G-forces and how they affect you in military flight.”
Students are also asked to relate the meaning of Veterans Day to their own lives. “I always have students raise their hands if they have parents or grandparents who are Veterans and we get so many hands up,” he says. This year’s presentation began on a somber note, with students passing a Purple Heart award and learning more about the man who earned it, Sgt. John M. McDermott, U.S. Army (66th Infantry Division) of Lakewood, Ohio. He was awarded the medal posthumously, having been killed in action on December 25, 1944 in Europe during WWII. The Purple Heart was donated by Peggy Cleary, a Fairview Park resident who is the cousin of Sgt. McDermott’s late wife. Ms. Cleary donated the Purple Heart to the school so that is could be shared with students in the way it was on Wednesday. “We honor the memory of Sgt. John M. McDermott, U.S. Army, for his service and sacrifice for his country,” says Mr. O’Grady.
Finally, Mr. O’Grady showed the students a new permanent memorial display, the Silent Hero Memorial Display, that is being installed in the high school. The memorial is in honor of 2LT Franklin Carter, U.S. Army and RRHS graduate (class of 1936), who died in June 1944 in Normandy, France. RRHS student Teagan Smith and Mr. O’Grady traveled to Normandy Beach and honored Lt. Carter as part of the National History Day® program Normandy: Sacrifice for Freedom® Albert H. Small Student & Teacher Institute.
Mr. O’Grady made a point of thanking Chuck Chulik, father of 6th grade Science teacher Brian Chulik, who donated the medals, decorations and memorial flag for the permanent memorial display.
The Veterans Day presentation was a chance for students at RRMS to learn about the Veterans honored on the national holiday, November 11. It was also a chance for some students to think about their own futures as they relate to the military. Notes Mr. O’Grady, “I always ask who would like to fly military jets someday and always get a few hands up.”
Posted: Monday, November 21, 2016