Fifth Grade Veterans Day Projects Brings Navy Veteran to Class

The meaning and importance of Veterans Day was the central theme as students in Sandy Carey’s fifth grade class at Driver Middle School presented their Veterans Day projects the week of November 8th. Each student interviewed a United States Military Veteran and then completed a written report on their individual interview experience. Class presentations were made the week of November 8th with each child presenting a visual display as well as sharing their insights on the interviewed veteran. Students had the opportunity to ask questions and comment on each presentation. A special highlight of the Veterans Day project was a classroom visit by U. S. Navy Captain Thomas Kanaley, SC. USN, (Ret.) who was the subject of 5th grade student Megan O’Brien’s report. Kanaley, who is O’Brien’s uncle, described his military experience in the U.S. Navy Supply Corps. He described how he was responsible for more than 3000 people as he handled the logistics operation for the Desert Storm campaign. Kanaley, dressed in full uniform, explained that his interest in the Navy was fueled while a student at Villanova University in the early 1960s. He served as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy from 1963 through 1970. He then re-enlisted in 1981 and began his involvement with the Supply Corps. Kanaley gave each student in the class an American flag and he shared a variety of his medals and awards. When asked what he liked most about military service Kanaley explained: “I would not give back one day of my service in the Navy. I traveled the world, I learned about a variety of cultures, and I made many friends.”

The fifth grade Veteran’s Day Project gives each student a very up close and personal view of the exceptional dedication that each military veteran demonstrates in their service to country! Listed below are the students in sandy Carey’s class and the veteran they interviewed:

Pavel Bandura – Vitaly Bandura, Army
Bradley Bednarski – Tom R. Bednarski, Army
Benjamin Beratta – Maj. Richard John LaMarre, Army
Bryce Bowen – Charles Jankowski, Army
Mary Colella & Anna Perry – Peter C. Colella, Navy
Taylor Crysler & Sami DiMarco – Jeffrey Allen Berwald, Coast Guard & Air Force
Kyle Denka – Thomas Anthony Fantauzzi, Army
Benjamin Fedorenko – Sergey Fedorenko, Army
Cameron Finnie – William A. Finnie, Air Force
Kayla Fogg – Tom Kay, Navy
Kaitlyn Foster – Santo Richard Palmano, Army
Samuel Grattan – Clifford Sherman Sparling, Air Force
Kaleigh Kemp – Terri Cheshire, Army
Mikenzie Lader – Corporal Frank Lee Graves, Army
Kate Morris – Dennis Muff, Marines
Meghan O’Brien – Capt. Tom Kanaley, Navy
John O’Hara – Edward A. O’Hara, Jr., Navy
Brendan Shanahan – Andrew Boyan, Dept. of Defense
Paige Tomeny – Charles V. Tomeny, Jr., Navy
Zachary Weiler – Kenneth Earl Lott, Sr., Marines