Veterans honored at middle school assembly

By Stephanie Bertholdo  bertholdo@theacorn.com 

LET FREEDOM RING--Student Michelle Arvanitis sings "God Bless America" during the A.E. Wright Middle School Veterans Day assembly honoring the men and women who have served in the U.S. military. Flanking Michelle are, left, an unidentified Marine, science teacher and former member of the U.S. Naval Reserve Art Borquist, and teacher and former captain with the U.S. Air Force Sal Pratts.

At A.E. Wright Middle School in Calabasas, Veterans Day receives special treatment beyond just the day off from school.

Each November, science teacher Arthur Borquist educates students about the sacrifices made by members of the armed forces through special social studies lessons that culminate in a Veterans Day assembly.

Borquist, Principal Steve Rosentsweig, Las Virgenes Unified School District personnel and many veterans gathered at the school Nov. 9 to pay tribute to those who have served--and continue to serve--in the United States' armed forces.

Marines from Camp Pendleton and Los Alamitos, and members of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7799 Las Virgenes served as color guards. Jessica Ann Huggins, a student at the school, sang a soulful rendition of the national anthem.

"For 230 years America's veterans have fought for and preserved freedom," Borquist said. "We again defend against an enemy that threatens civilization as we know it," he said.

Borquist said Americans fought in World War II, Korea, Vietnam and Kuwait for "the freedom of a people they did not know."

Several teachers at the school have served in the military, including Steve Scott, a Navy veteran, and Army vet Bob Wade. Wade carried the POW/MIA flag at the assembly. Teacher Sal Pratts was an Air Force captain; Borquist a member of the Navy Reserve.

Dan Stepenosky, district assistant superintendent of personnel, served as a lieutenant in the Navy, and Borquist said Superintendent Sandra Smyser's daughter recently completed a tour of duty in Iraq and is now in Kuwait.

Many of the veterans in attendance were A.E. Wright alumni. The color guard was led by Marine Cpl. Justin Rosa, who completed classes at A.E. Wright in 1995. Carrying the Marines' colors was Sgt. Ryan Ashley Lathrop, and Lance Cpl. Sean Wax graduated with the class of 2000. Army Spc. Michael Spirtos is a veteran of the war in Iraq. He graduated from Wright in 1998.

Navy Ensign Jordon Flacco joined his father, Cmdr. Nick Flacco, at the assembly. The young Flacco left A.E. Wright in 1996. Both father and son are graduates of the U.S. Naval Academy.

Another color guard member, Sgt. Kayitz Finley, was a member of the Marine unit that liberated Baghdad in 2003, Borquist said.

Service veteran and Holocaust survivor Bernie Simon was imprisoned at the Dachau death camp. Simon has lived in Ventura since after World War II.

Borquist paid special tribute to the late Bill O'Hayer, a Marine veteran. After the former A.E. Wright plant manager died, the school's flagpole was dedicated in his memory. O'Hayer's Marine Corps graduation photo was at the podium during the assembly.

Borquist encouraged students to take time to reflect upon the sacrifices made by so many veterans. "On Veterans Day, seek out a vet and thank them for their service," Borquist said.

In recognition of the U.S. military's nearly 3,000 men and women who have lost their lives in Iraq, and the 350 who died in Afghanistan, Borquist called for a minute of silence.

The assembly ended with student Michelle Arvanitis singing "God Bless America."