Students at Western Hills Middle School last week were treated to their first annual Memorial Day celebration. The event featured speakers from the United States Naval Academy and served as host to veterans from various areas of military service.

Students rotated through stations set up throughout the school, which included first-hand accounts of wartime experiences from more than 20 veterans from all branches of the military; Navy divers explaining requirements and offering hands-on equipment exploration; a physical fitness station where students were given an opportunity to participate in a physical fitness challenge; an historical overview of the U.S.S. Constitution and the impact it has on our ships today; a slideshow presentation about Navy deep sea diving missions; as well as interactive question and answer sessions.

“Today’s first annual Memorial Day celebration at Western Hills was a huge success,” said Anthony Corrente, school principal. “The students today had a unique experience which provided them with a hands-on learning experience that they won’t soon forget.”

Students were quick to agree. “It was really cool to be able to ask questions and talk about the missions with the Navy divers,” said eighth-grade student Madison Pine.

“I liked that we were able to try on the equipment and feel what it’s really like,” said Max Johnson, also in eighth grade.

When the school decided to put together their first Memorial Day celebration, science teacher Janet Antonelli and social studies teacher Michaela Horta began to think about appropriate speakers for the event. They began to recruit military members and veterans to speak to the students, but they did not expect the tremendous reception to their requests.

“When I contacted Lt. JG James Adams from the U.S. Navy, it was exciting and a bit overwhelming to hear that he would bring an entire group of Navy personnel from around the country to speak to our students,” Antonelli said.

Speakers from the Navy were from bases all over the country, but were in Rhode Island for the week due to a conference at the U.S. Naval College in Newport.

In addition to the Navy personnel, more than 20 local veterans offered students first-hand accounts from their experiences in wars including World War II, Iraq and Afghanistan. They were: John O’Hara, Matt Zarrella, Don Beausal, Carlo Gamba, Joel Testa, Joseph Santos, Steve Calenda, Stanley Warner/USMC, Scott Duckworth, Walter Clarks/USMC, Major Alan DeFuesne, Michael Tevyan, Peter Phaneauf, Richard Stone, Commander John Cesana, Colonel Rudy Walden/USAF, Michael Ortiz, Jr, Jerome Bickimen, Charlie Mulcahy, Raymond Denisewich, and Peter Wisnieski.

The school is already making plans for its second annual Memorial Day celebration. “This event was a positive experience for our students and was so well received,” Corrente said, “that we are already looking forward to next years celebration.”

(Submitted photos)