Saint Rose hosts Veterans Day breakfast with students
Event included 21 veterans, student performances, and certificate presentations
– Saint Rose Catholic School held a Veterans Day breakfast on Nov. 7 in the parish hall, hosted by fourth-grade teacher Julie Glunz, Spanish teacher Command Sergeant Major Irma Ortiz, and Saint Rose middle school students.
Assemblymember Dawn Addis attended to acknowledge and honor veterans with certificates of recognition. Representatives from U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta’s office dropped off additional certificates recognizing their service. Glunz led the event and worked alongside Ortiz, who is a veteran.
The certificates were presented to the veterans after their biographies and military accomplishments were read.
According to Saint Rose Vice Principal Audrey Roza, 21 veterans attended along with their guests, bringing the total to about 50 people. Middle school students and several fourth graders also participated. Sixth graders cleaned and bussed tables, seventh graders served and waited on tables, and eighth graders spoke with veterans and their guests. Students in the advanced band played patriotic music. A group of fourth graders sang the national anthem. Middle school students in the Leadership elective and the Spirit and Service Club read biographies and military descriptions. Principal Trevor Knable and Addis presented certificates from her office and from Panetta’s office.
Saint Rose provided breakfast. The parish hall was decorated with artwork from students in PreK through eighth grade. Veterans in attendance were from the school, church, and local community. Roza said the school aims to foster well-rounded students through its Student Learning Expectations, which emphasize being Faithful Catholic Christians, Lifelong Learners, and Responsible Citizens.
The school shared an email from a parent and veteran who attended the breakfast. “The Veteran’s Day Breakfast was, in my estimation, a success. The decorations were beautifully crafted by the students. The music by the student band was phenomenal. The breakfast itself was delicious,” wrote Former Navy Journalist Petty Officer 2nd Class Leif A. Brekke.
“Having the upper-grade students mingle and query with the veterans was, I think, the highlight of the event. I very much enjoyed discussing the various aspects of military life that the students were curious about, and it provided a marvelous opportunity to inform and influence these youth in a meaningful way,” Brekke wrote.
“Hearing the biographies read was also interesting and made for a way to get to know other veterans that I did not know beforehand. Ms. Addis’ presence and speech were an honor to experience, and the certificates of appreciation were well-received,” he wrote.
He added that sharing the experience with his 6-year-old daughter “helped shape what public respect looks like, what respect for our nation looks like, and how our faith in and respect for God shapes our responses to one another.” Brekke wrote that he “felt honored, appreciated, and involved in the process.”
