Park Avenue honors local vets at annual Veterans Day Celebration

Park Avenue Elementary School honored local veterans on Friday, November 7, during its annual Veterans Day Celebration!

The 26-year tradition brings the community together to recognize the local men and women who have served in the US Armed Forces. Students and their families, and guests – including dozens of veterans – filled the gymnasium for the ceremony, organized by the Park Avenue Student Council and its advisors, Theresa Canfield and Amy Buliung. 

Superintendent of Schools, Dr. David Leach, Assistant Superintendents Meghan McGourty and Cindy Leandro, as well as the WVCSD Board of Education President Keith Parsons were in attendance. They were joined by a number of local officials, including Deputy Mayor Barry Cheney, Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus, members of the Nam Knights and representatives from Orange County Veteran Services. 

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The program opened with a flag presentation by Student Council members and the Nam Knights, followed by a moving performance of the National Anthem by the Warwick Valley High School Meistersingers, under the direction of Noreen Hanson. After Deputy Mayor Cheney led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance, each branch of the military was honored with its official service song, also sung by Meistersingers. 

Park Avenue Principal Bill Biniaris then welcomed and thanked guests. In his address, Mr. Biniaris spoke about the importance of helping students understand the meaning of service and citizenship, two values that coincide deeply with the district’s Portrait of a Graduate.

“Our student body does so many things related to community service and veterans, but this event is an especially great opportunity for these boys and girls to really see true heroes and models of citizenship,” he said.

The Wire Choir, led by Elissa Maynard, performed Vivant and God Bless America, including solos by Grace Cornelius, Jane Cornelius, and Grace Stough. Christian Farrell, Army Staff Sergeant and Director of Orange County Veteran Services, thanked the Warwick Valley community for its unwavering support of veterans. Mr. Farrell quipped, to the absolute delight of the students, that Park Avenue and Warwick’s collective “level of patriotism is off the charts! On a scale of one to five… it’s probably a six-seven!” 

The ceremony continued with Park Avenue students performing You’re a Grand Old Flag and This Land is Your Land, followed by performance of America The Beautiful by the Meistersingers. Student council members took the podium to share their gratitude for the veterans and to present a donation to Wreaths Across America, which Mr. Farrell accepted on behalf of the organization. 

One of the most touching moments of the morning came when Park Avenue students joined the Meistersingers for a combined performance of Thank You Soldiers, directed by Katelyn Mulzett, Keeley Blaikner, and Noreen Hanson. 

Dr. Leach closed the ceremony by thanking the veterans in attendance and invited them to stand and be recognized during a roll call that filled the entire room with applause. The Wire Choir provided a final musical tribute with a beautiful performance of America The Beautiful.

As we celebrate Veterans Day tomorrow, Tuesday, November 11, we will be thinking about all of the veterans who joined us on Friday, as well as all the men and women who have served in our military, protecting the freedoms that we are so privileged to enjoy in the United States.