Schools
Lawrence Middle School Students Salute Veterans
'We're living history,' one vet says. 'It's a good idea for kids to talk to living history.'
The students, faculty and Parent-Teacher-Student Association of honored area veterans Thursday.
Bruce Troe, ESL teacher and event organizer, said about 150 Armed Services veterans were in attendance at the Veterans Day luncheon.
Marylee Peña, English teacher, said most of those veterans served in the Korean and Vietnam wars. There were a few World War II veterans, as well as Desert Storm veterans. She said the school’s student body leadership class planned much of the event.
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The day began with a reception in the library, where veterans and their families mingled and shared stories.
Michael LaVere, a fit and trim WWII veteran of the 8th Airforce, said he flew 36 combat missions over Germany. He was stationed in England when he was called on to deliver gasoline to Gen. Patton. He said these missions, dubbed “gas hauls,” delivered crucial gasoline to allied tanks as they moved up central France.
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Following the war, LaVere worked for Hughes Aircraft for 33 years as engineer. Although he is retired, LaVere is still active in the community and in the sky. He participates in , an organization that sends care packages to U.S. service members deployed in overseas. And, he still flies.
“A friend has a private plane at Van Nuys Airport,” he said. “We go up once a week.”
Nathan Locker, a combat engineer with the Army Corps of Engineers served in Vietnam from 1965 to 1966. The demolition expert and life-long San Fernando Valley resident said returning to the community after the war was difficult.
“It took a long time for the community to accept us,” he said.
Locker eventually became plant manager for a Chatsworth company that imported and exported arts and crafts.
Locker told Chatsworth Patch that appreciated the consideration with which he and his fellow veterans were received Thursday.
“Everyone here is very nice, very courteous,” he said. “They show respect for all the vets.”
Samuel Burke, LAUSD teacher-advisor at Ernest Lawrence Middle School, said he has not seen an event that honors the nation's veterans at any other LAUSD school.
“This event teaches commitment to character and responsibility of teamwork,” he said, while veterans and their families proceeded to the cafeteria.
Diana Salonga, student body president, led the group through the Pledge of Allegiance. Nancy Kephart, of Elks Lodge 2790, and the Lawrence Band performed the National Anthem, before turning the microphone over to , school principal.
“Thank you, veterans and families, for being here,” said Schar, in his introductory remarks to the assembled veterans and students. “Your presence reminds us how much you have given.”
After WWII veterans got an ovation. Today, Schar said many veterans are in need of help. Some need financial help. Some need a place to stay. And some need medical help, he said.
“We’re able to be here because of what these veterans and families have done,” he said.
The stage was then turned over to the students.
The Lawrence Band performed The Patriot, a composition from the motion picture of the same name.
The Creative Expression class preformed “What is a Veteran?”, a skit which attempted to answer this question. They said that quite a few famous people, like Roald Dahl, Elvis Presley and Dr. Seuss had served in the armed forces.
“Bill Cosby was in the navy for four years, where he helped soldiers injured in Korea,” they said.
Jonathan Lewis, a student, read “I am an American Soldier,” a poem he wrote from the perspective of a soldier.
“I wonder when war will stop,” he recited. “I dream that one day war will cease.”
A group of students in military garb sounded off in the Cadence Performance, before the ceremony concluded with Taps. Hailey Serna, the students’ commissioner of spirit, explained the origin of Taps, and Mark Wamhoff, band director, played Taps.
Nathan Locker, the Vietnam veteran, addressed the crowd.
“I’d like to thank the school and students,” he began. “The vets are the ones who help this country stay strong and free,” he said.
He emphasized service and sacrifice.
“They (veterans) serve with an open heart,” he said. “Most of us put our lives in jeopardy with an open heart.”
Art Sherman, 90, a WWII veteran, spoke with Chatsworth Patch while students served a luncheon provided by the Lawrence PTSA.
“We (veterans) are living history,” he said.
Sherman, a bombardier in the Army Airforce, said he served in combat in Europe from 1942 to 1946. He said he was wounded in his 13th mission over Austria.
“Flak began shooting at our plane,” he said. “It killed the gunner… (Shrapnel) went through my helmet and I was knocked out.”
Sherman said the shrapnel went through his skull but stopped in the fluid that surrounds the brain.
Sherman said he became an intelligence officer for the rest of the war in Europe, and that he was sent to the Pentagon after the war in Europe ended.
“I was in the Pentagon when they dropped the bomb (on Hiroshima).”
Sherman said he eventually enrolled in USC’s law school but had to drop out due to frequent headaches caused by his injuries. However, he completed his education with a degree in business administration.
Nowadays, Sherman is leader of Wings Over Wendy’s, a group of veterans that meets every Monday at Wendy’s restaurant in West Hills.
“We get together to tell stories, and some of them are true,” he said with a laugh.
Sherman said only approximately 3 million veterans of 16 million WWII veterans are still alive, and that about 300,000 pass away every year.
“We’re living history,” he said again. “It’s a good idea for kids to talk to living history.”
Bruce Troe said much of the event was organized and executed by the students.
“The thank-you packages and cards were produced by students,” he said. “They made sure each veteran got a card.”
Manny Valencia, an 8th grader who participated in the Cadence Performance, said it was “a pretty cool experience.”
“They (veterans) went to serve for our protection,” he said. “We wouldn’t have this country if it wasn’t for them.”