HONORING OUR VETERANS

 On the Friday before Veterans Day, the entire Sayville Middle School gathered in the auditorium for an early morning celebration with honored guests from the Sayville's VFW Post 433.

 Opening the celebration, the students and staff joined the Veterans in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. In his welcome remarks, Principal Thomas Murray reminded the assembly why we commemorate Veterans Day. He spoke of freedom, service, and sacrifice made by these brave men and women in the military and emphasized “Freedom is Not Free.”

 After each of the Veterans who attended was introduced to the students with a brief description of his or her military service, the students presented the Veterans with a Thank You Banner inscribed with the signatures of the entire Middle School students and staff members. 

 According to Joan Furey, senior vice commander of VFW Post 433 in Sayville, Post 433 the Thank You Banner will be prominently displayed at the annual dinner for veterans who are hospitalized. After, Post 433 will send the banner where it can be appreciated most, with the troops serving overseas, who would be happy to know they are appreciated by the Sayville Middle School Community.

 Later, during lunch periods, all the Middle School students and staff planted hundreds of small American Flags on the Middle School front lawn to symbolize their heartfelt thanks to the veterans for their service.