Anaiah Fowlkes 28'
On November 7, Fontbonne’s Students for Soldiers and Scholars Society took the initiative to raise awareness for our local veterans. The Students for Soldiers Club focused on the creation of handmade, appreciative cards, which were later taken to a VA (Veterans’ Affairs) Hospital to be handed out to the veterans. The Scholars Society also hosted a small “get-together” for the veterans related to FHA students in the cafeteria.
Maryann Polanco, President of the Scholars Society, said in an interview: “On the day of the event, scholars decorated the cafeteria beautifully and really made it look amazing. They also kindly donated desserts and snacks for the veterans.” Additionally, Ms. Sosa created a slideshow that was presented throughout the event, and a raffle was hosted for the veterans that were present. Maryann, Giana Stines (the Vice President), Ms. Sosa, and the students within the Scholar Society worked tirelessly to ensure the success of the event.
The Students for Soldiers Club hosted a card-making event in Room 422, where students had an opportunity to create hand-made cards for Veterans in exchange for 30 minutes of service hours per card. The aim of this event was to “give back to the veterans, especially the veterans in our community,” according to Giada Amendolara and Kiera Angilletta, President and Vice President of the Students for Soldiers Club. After the cards were collected, FHA students alongside Mr. Loftus and Ms. Iannucci visited a VA hospital for care and rehabilitation. There, they distributed over 200 cards and many different types of pastries to the veterans.
During their visit to the VA Hospital, each administrator remembered a key moment that stood out to them. For example, in an interview, Mr. Gentile mentioned how at the hospital he saw the words: “Freedom isn’t free.” Ms. Iannucci mentioned that she met an army veteran from the Afghanistan War named Ana De La O-Legeros, who is currently a nurse and instructor at St. Francis. Ms. De La O-Legeros highlights the role women can play and the things they can achieve regardless of their gender. The Veterans were very delighted as a result of this visit and made their appreciation known to the FHA students and staff.
Through this event, FHA students had the opportunity to see and experience things that most students haven’t experienced. As noted by Mr. Gentile, these veterans at this hospital paid a significant price for their country. He hopes that students can comprehend the sacrifices made by veterans, and walk away with a deeper appreciation and understanding of what they gave up for our country. Mr. Loftus saw this visit as an “eye-opening” experience, as VA Hospitals are often hard to visit due to the injuries and suffering. It’s like a peek into a whole different world that we are often unaware of.
Overall, the visit to the VA Hospital was an appreciated and heartfelt success. The students gave back to the veterans for their service to our country, and the Students for Soldiers Club plans to do more events like this in the future. As a veteran himself, Mr. Gentile says that he is “Always proud that our school has a program that honors veterans,” and hopes that this experience will motivate people to join the Students for Soldiers Club and volunteer to help them in their future endeavors.
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