Printer Friendly Version - Branford Student Essayists Share 'What Memorial Day Means to Me'

Essayists recognized at Walsh Intermediate School include (l-r): Charlotte Green, Tatia Cassella, Bella Severino, Scott Penner (first place), Michael Loomis (second place), Emma Melvin, Sophia Manzo, Katie Harmon and Addie Graver. Not available for photo: Charlotte Yeh. Pictured with the students are (back, l-r): Elliott Hastings of VFW Post 12106, WIS assistant principal Peter Anaclerio, teacher Maura Hudson, WIS Principal Raeanne Reynolds, Branford Schools Superintendent Hamlet Hernandez, teacher Maria Fazzino, and Juris Patrylak of American Legion Post 83.Photo by Bill O'Brien

Some patriotic young Branford students answered the call to describe "What Memorial Day Means to Me" during the annual Captain Thomas Yester 2018 Memorial Day essay contest at Walsh Intermediate School (WIS).

The annual contest is organized by the Branford Veterans Parade Committee with assistance from Branford Public Schools, and supported with gift cards generously sponsored by the Branford Community Foundation (BCF) each year.

This year, a panel of judges selected the ten top student writers from all essays submitted. Next, Veterans Parade Committee members and Superintendent of Schools Hamlet Hernandez (USMC Lt. Col., retired) joined WIS principal Raeanne Reynolds and assistant principal Peter Anaclerio at the school to meet the students and their teachers. The students were presented with gift cards and certificates of merit.

The contest's first and second place prize winners will read their essays during Branford's 2018 Memorial Day ceremony. The ceremony takes place at 10 a.m. on Monday, May 28 on the Branford green, followed by Branford's Memorial Day Parade.

First prize essayist Scott Penner, a fifth grader, received a $100 Denali gift card courtesy BCF. His winning essay reads: "Memorial Day is a day to celebrate all the veterans in wars who have fought to save our country and died. I celebrate Memorial Day by going to the Memorial Day parade every year. On Memorial Day, we all need to take a moment of silence for those who have lost their lives fighting for our country's freedom. We must thank them with all our heart that we now live in this amazing country where we have freedom to do anything we want. They risked everything they have just so we could have a free country. We have Memorial Day so we will never forget the people that risked their lives for us. This is a day to thank them."

BCF sponsored a $75 Denali gift card awarded to runner up Michael Loomis, also a fifth-grader. Loomis wrote, "Every year on Memorial Day, my country remembers those military veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice and lost their lives to keep us safe. Memorial Day is held on the last Monday in May and is an important day for all U.S. citizens to take time out of their day to honor those military members. To show patriotism, schools and businesses are closed and families get together to celebrate their lives. Some towns have parades and people dress in red, white and blue to honor our country's flag. It is easy to forget on a regular day the amount of military members who have died in all wars and battles. They left their families and lost lives for our freedom. This is why we should all take time to say a prayer to them and to show respect for the military still fighting right now."

BCF also sponsored $25 Hornet's Nest gift certificates provided to eight honorable mention winners. They are, in alphabetical order: Tatia Cassella, Addie Graver, Charlotte Green, Katie Harmon, Sophia Manzo, Emma Melvin, Bella Severino and Charlotte Yeh.

Contest chairman and Veterans Parade Committee chair Bill O'Brien said the contest receives tremendous support annually from WIS and Branford Public Schools. He thanked Superintendent Hamlet Hernandez, WIS principal Raeanne Reynolds and WIS assistant principal Peter Anaclerio for their support with the project.

In 2012, the Branford Veterans Parade commitee re-named its annual essay contest in honor of Captain Thomas Yester, a World War II veteran and active committee member who passed away that year. Yester flew more than 60 missions as a B-26 tail gunner. He earned the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with 9 Oak Leaf Clusters, and European Theater Ribbon with 3 Battle Stars, among other awards.

O'Brien said Yester was committed to helping residents "understand and appreciate the service of veterans of all wars."