Jana Persky and Dan Popper
For those students who have watched the new HBO mini-series The Pacific, the characters and the violent battles of World War II are graphic and realistic. But even more vivid are the stories of the men who actually served in those campaigns, more than a hundred of whom will be coming here tomorrow, Thursday, May 27, for the annual pre-Memorial Day veterans assembly.
The assembly will run from 10:30-12:30, but according to Social Studies Department Chair Richard Webb, it may run a little longer. “This is probably going to the longest assembly yet, so we may be excusing kids from 10-1,” Mr. Webb said.
All students are encouraged to attend, but Mr. Webb said that all American Studies, AP United States History, and US History students will definitely be going. According to Mr. Webb, there may be students from surrounding towns attending the assembly as well.
Principal Tony Pavia said that this year’s assembly is going to be slightly different than those of past years, due to the presence of Connecticut Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz. Her appearance will be part of a series of assemblies in which she travels to various cities and towns around the state honoring local veterans. However, Mr. Pavia emphasized that the tradition of student participation will remain strong. “Although the Secretary of State is coming, we do this [assembly]every year and I wanted to preserve the kids’ involvement,” he said.
This year, sophomore Harrison Harkey is producing the annual tribute video, accompanied by a musical score written by junior Robby Mallozzi and NCHS graduate Dean Miller. Mr. Pavia also said that the band will play the five Armed Services Themes and that the Madrigals, Orchestra and Jazz Band will also be performing. Senior Brooke Singman will sing the national anthem.
At past assemblies, Mr. Pavia has selected veterans to come onstage and speak. This year, that format is going to be slightly altered. “I think that Secretary of State Bysiewicz is going to take the microphone and go out to talk to the veterans in the audience,” Mr. Pavia said.
According to Mr. Pavia, numerous state officials have been invited to the event. “[First Selectman] Jeb Walker, the mayor of Stamford [Michael Pavia], and [Congressman] Jim Hines have definitely been invited, and I’m sure other state officials will be coming,” Mr. Pavia said.
It is unknown whether Attorney General Richard Blumenthal will be attending due to the recent controversy about his military record. “In the past, I think he would have been there, since he is usually intermittently involved,” Mr. Pavia said, “but this year I don’t know since he might not want to draw attention away from the vets.”
Despite changes, the goals of the assembly have remained the same. “Every year, my first hope is that students go into Memorial Day weekend with a better appreciation of what its about,” Mr. Pavia said. “It is critical that youth get to meet people who made history. I hope students take a moment to understand that it’s not just three days of nice weather. It’s not anything anyone says or does specifically, its simply that the entire assembly causes people to think and reflect- these guys have done things exactly like what’s in movies like Saving Private Ryan, exactly like The Pacific.”
Mr. Webb agreed with Mr. Pavia. “[We want to] make students aware that freedom is not free. It was heroic struggles of ordinary men in extraordinary times,” he said.
Mr. Pavia said that the assembly will benefit the veterans as well. “The assembly is important to get veterans connected with young people. Nobody appreciates it more than the vets.”
According to Mr. Webb, Mr. Pavia has cultivated strong relationships with veterans in the area. “[Mr. Pavia] is basically a veteran magnet,” Mr. Webb said. “People are just drawn to him.” Mr. Pavia confirmed that local veterans from Stamford and New Canaan asked him to host the assembly.
Mr. Pavia said these relationships were formed during the writing of his book, An American Town Goes to War. Mr. Pavia spoke to hundreds of veterans in Stamford and compiled their stories for the public to read. “What was so unique about World War II is that it was everyone. You can go to any town in the United States and people are walking around with stories and you just don’t know them,” Mr. Pavia said. “I went to the funerals and wakes of all the veterans [that I talked to], and being there taught me how much it did for the families. For some people, this was the first time their families heard their stories. There was one woman who came to me and said her husband had nightmares all the time, and she didn’t find out why until [the book]. “
Mr. Pavia stressed the importance of having this assembly now, due to the rising death rates of veterans. A recent Stamford Advocate article estimated that about 40 World War II veterans die each day in Connecticut. “This assembly has a special focus on veterans from World War II, and World War II vets are dying at high rates,” Mr. Pavia said.
“Since we sent out RSVPs in mid-April, two guys that were planning to attend have died- that shows you the immediacy of trying to celebrate,” Mr. Pavia said. “I think this is going to be the last assembly of this kind- we are never going to see this many veterans together ever again.”
photos by Anjelique Kyriakos
