East Rockaway School District honors local veterans

East Rockaway School District administrators joined the students and faculty of Centre Avenue School for a special tribute to local veterans.

The morning presentation on Oct. 9 began with the Pledge of Allegiance, which was led by Centre Avenue students. This was then followed by individual introductions of each of the 15 veteran honorees representing members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and the Marines. These veterans served in Korea, Vietnam, and Desert Storm.

Students then presented each veteran with personalized gifts of gratitude consisting of hand-made thank you cards, poems, and pictures. Following the tribute, students took part in an assembly hosted by Northwell Health Military Liaison Services featuring Marine Corps Master Gunnery Sergeant John Escalante. Escalante explained the different branches of the military as well as shared his early inspiration and personal experience growing up as a child of immigrant parents from Ecuador.