Veterans receive a stirring tribute from youngsters at Father Holland

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BURRILLVILLE — The Veterans Day exercises performed by the students of Father Holland School in the church basement at St. Joseph Church were a wonder to the 40 veterans invited to attend.

The children sang patriotic songs, danced and even folded the American flag properly last Friday, announcing proudly the meaning of each fold.

“It means a lot,” said Robert Sargis, a retired U.S. Army Brigadier General who served during the Vietnam War era. “These are the kids that we were trying to protect and who we won the war for.”

Ralph Palmieri, 89, first wore the uniform of his nation in the closing days of World War II. He was then sent to fight with the U.S. Army in the Korean War. He served 11 months with a forward recon company and earned the Bronze Star for bravery.

“I like it,” he said. “It makes me happy they are teaching these kids all of this today in school. It matters. It is important.”

The exercises were well-rehearsed by the students and their teachers in advance and the veterans, some in uniform, sat back, relaxed and enjoyed the celebration of their service. At the welcome, the veterans were told, “We stand with you and we thank you.”

St. Joseph Pastor Father Peter J. Sheehan, a veteran, having served as a chaplain for the U.S. Marines and U.S. Navy, offered the opening prayer.

He commended both the students and the veterans for their service during the day’s events.

Ed Thomas, 80, served during the Korean War era, and was encouraged by what he saw Friday.

“At least they will know that there were those wars and that people from their own town served their country,” Thomas said.

The event featured oratory with students reciting the history of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the poem “In Flanders Field” and “What is a Veteran.”

Lawrence St. Jean, 94, flew with the 9th U.S. Army Air Force as a radar navigator. The B-26 bombers in his group flew missions over Germany. He received the Purple Heart when he was wounded during a bombing run.

He sat quietly, watching as the schoolchildren filed into the church hall and took their assigned places on the small stage and on the floor.

“I think this is terrific,” he said. “I appreciate this a great deal. I was born in Burrillville, went to war from Burrillville and came home and I have lived my whole life here. What more could a man ask for?”