Seymour Middle School honored for work with veterans

Seymour Middle School staff and local veterans Seymour Middle School staff and local veterans Photo: Contributed Photo Photo: Contributed Photo Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Seymour Middle School honored for work with veterans 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

SEYMOUR — Whether they’re performing “The Star-Spangled Banner” at the Memorial Day parade, learning about PTSD in health class, lighting a candle in memory of a fallen hero or being pen pals with soldiers, students at Seymour Middle School know the importance of honoring veterans.

Thanks to the numerous programs and events the school holds that brings students and veterans together, the state Department of Education and state Department of Veterans Affairs has honored SMS as a “School of Distinction.”

SMS was among nine schools across the state to receive an award in the inaugural “Teaching about Veterans School Recognition Program,” and was one of only three that “significantly exceeded the criteria,” according to teacher Harvey Catlin.

The award program was created in response to the state legislature passing Public Act 16-188, which calls for veterans and schools to work together to benefit students.

“What I’m most proud of is that SMS didn’t do anything special to try to earn this award,” said Catlin. “Everything is routine for us. We have a long tradition of working with our veterans community to benefit both the students and the veterans.”

Catlin, a social studies teacher, said SMS prides itself on working with veterans.

“The students benefit greatly from the firsthand knowledge and experiences that the veterans bring to the classrooms,” he said. “I can get on a soap box and preach all day long about the brave men and women who have earned our freedoms. That is at best a poor substitute for meeting the real heroes. When veterans work with the students, we don’t have to talk to them in advance about being grateful and showing respect.”

Catlin said many veterans have told him that sharing their stories with the younger generation is “part of their duty to the community.”

“The veterans stood ready when called by our nation,” said Catlin. “These amazing people still stand ready when called by the community to share their experiences.”

Seymour voted several years back to hold school on Veterans Day, rather than have a day off, and the day features a flag-raising ceremony, along with veterans visiting classrooms.

Other student/veterans events include an annual candlelight vigil; a “Wall of Heroes” display in the school’s foyer featuring pictures and biographies of students’ family members with active or past military service; a pen pal program pairing students and soldiers serving in Afghanistan; a veterans benefit concert; Memorial Day essay contest; wreath-laying ceremony; and a Flag Day program in which students visit American Legion Post 10 to learn flag etiquette and other traditions.

Al Yagovane, an Army veteran and commander of VFW Post 12084, said he was “very proud” to hear about the award and lauded students and Catlin for “going above and beyond” to honor the men and women of the military.

Superintendent of Schools Michael Wilson concurred.

“We are very fortunate to have such a strong partnership with our local veterans groups in Seymour and we thank them for their service as well as for their support in helping us to educate our students,” he said.

School Principal Bernadette Hamad said of the state recognition: “We are humbled to be recognized for something we do just because it’s the right thing to do.”

“Our school community honors our veterans throughout the year in appreciation of their sacrifices and dedication to our country,” she said. “It’s important that our students understand what it means to be a veteran and our teachers do an outstanding job accomplishing that goal.”

The school will hold a Veterans Day flag-raising ceremony at 8:05 a.m. Nov. 12.

jean.sos@snet.net