2018-2019 Gallery
Christmas Party
Mrs. Morrison hosted a Christmas Party for veterans and students on December 18th. Band and chorus students volunteered to perform for the evening. The veterans and students were treated to a pizza and salad dinner, with desserts provided by the students. The students made snowman ornaments with their veterans and presented them with personalized stockings they filled with treats.
Poquoson Holiday Parade
At the City of Poquoson's 2018 Holiday Parade, Mrs. Morrison had the honor of being selected as this year's Grand Marshal. She was driven by Mr. Henry Ayer and her car was followed by two of this year's project veteran, Mr. Sigmon and Mr. Hahn, and the local American Legion post.
Veterans Day Celebrations
On November 10, Ret. Col. Kevin Felix hosted a Veterans Day party at his home and invited this year's veterans to be honored. He also set up interviews for students from Peninsula Catholic and Poquoson who do not get to participate in the project to interview veterans before the party started.
On November 11, the City of Poquoson held a Veterans Day ceremony at City Hall. Mrs. Morrison was invited to the event to speak about the Poquoson Veterans Project.
Washington, D.C. Field Trip
On November 9, seventy-three PHS students and seventeen veterans visited our nation's capitol. Groups of students and veterans toured the National Museum of American History and the World War II, Vietnam, and Korea Memorials. The two charter busses necessary to transport the group were generously donated by Mike and Kathy Melo of ITA International.
Above, Mr. Holder and Parker are paired for the project and got to sit together on the bus and tour together all day.
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Left, the whole group under the National Museum of American History's Star Spangled Banner display.
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Below, photo of the National WWII Memorial taken by student, Jordan.
WWII Memorial
Mrs. Morrison invited Holly Rotondi and Thalia Ertman, the executive director and public education officer for the Friends of the National WWII Memorial, to see the Poquoson Veterans Project in action. The annual teachers conference hosted by the Friends is what inspired Mrs. Morrison to start the project. Students were given a tour of the memorial by Park Ranger Brad.
Above middle, Mr. Pereira and his student, Hector enjoy looking around the memorial together.
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Above right, Mr. Fronkier and his group of students, Isaac, Ryan, and Sarah stopping to talk after visiting the WWII memorial.
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Bottom left, Mr. Pederson spent the day touring with Drew, Bradshaw, Aaron, and Grant.
Below, Ranger Brad let the group rest on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial while he spoke about the Vietnam and Korea Memorials, before the groups explored them.
Vietnam Memorial Wall
Mr. Smith served in Vietnam and had never visited the wall. His student, Sasha, helped him to etch the names of two of his fallen shipmates.
Mr. Boddy is also a Vietnam veteran who visited the wall for the first time on this trip. His group of students helped him find all the names he wanted to etch.
Football Games
On August 24, 2018 the Poquoson Veterans Project recognized Retired Commander Peter Bachand. He participated in the coin toss and his son, senior Jack Bachand, took the field with his dad as a football captain.
At the PHS Homecoming game on September 28, members of the Poquoson Veterans Project were invited to take the field and stand with the band during the playing of the national anthem.
Mr. Joe Kelly, a WWII veteran, was recognized and performed the coin toss at the start of the game. Pictured middle, senior football captain Colton Hicks shakes Mr. Kelly's hand before they take the field together.
Congressman and veteran Scott Taylor visited the football game on Oct. 16 to speak with Mrs. Morrison about the project.
Mr. Kelly and Mr. Mastrogianakis (right) smile as the student section (above), decked out in their red, white, and blue, chant "U-S-A."
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Above left, participants of the Poquoson Veterans Project and their families sit in a reserved area of the bleachers during the Homecoming football game.
Retired Army Colonel Davies was recognized on Oct. 16 and performed the coin toss at the start of the game.
Mr. Fred Lowack performed the coin toss on Oct. 18. He was honored for his service in the Navy by the referees, PHS players, and Bruton players.
This year's youngest veteran, Mr. Andy Corbett, performed the coin toss on Nov. 3. He was joined on the field by his son, Braddigan.
Mr. Jake Smith performed the coin toss on Nov. 9. Mr. Smith took the field with PHS team captain to perform the coin toss at the start of the game.
Homecoming Parade
The Poquoson Veterans Project featured 40 veterans in this year's Homecoming Parade. This was made possible by the Model A Club of Williamsburg and other local owners of classic and convertible cars.
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Far right, senior Jack Bachand drives his father, Ret. Commander Peter Bachand in the parade.
Interviews
The Friends of the National WWII Memorial sent Max Acchione, a professional videographer, to film a commercial about the project for national distribution. The goal of the film is to show the success of the Poquoson Veterans Project and encourage school systems across the country to adopt a similar program.
Mrs. Morrison and Mr. Acchione interview Mrs. Judy McCormick, president of the Poquoson Education Foundation, about her organization's involvement with the project, including a grant of $1,000 in the fall of 2017.
Mrs. Morrison and Mr. Acchione film the national anthem during the 2018 Homecoming football game, while members of the Poquoson Veterans Project stand on the field, saluting the flag.
Mr. Acchione films Mrs. Morrison's interview with Poquoson City Public Schools superintendent Dr. Jennifer Parish, for the Friends of the National WWII Memorial commercial.
Interview Day
On October 4, 2018 the veterans were invited to PHS to meet their students for the first time. The veterans talked with their students about their military experiences and they had lunch together.
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1) Mike Nicosia interviewed by his students, Grant and Bradshaw.
2) Drew interviews his grandfather, Dan Davison.
3) Ken Wissinger explains the meaning of his military pins to his students, Camille and Grace.
4) Retired Colonel Claudia Beadle listens, as her student, Abby C., asks her questions. Down the table, Richard LaBarre is interviewed by Abby B. and Andy Corbett sits with his student, Casey, and PHS's Mrs. Hartley.
5) Steve Schott is interviewed by his grandson, James, and at the end of the table, Ken Wissinger shows Camille and Grace a book he brought.
6) Jack talks with Nick Mastrogianakis, who says "I made a friend today."
7) Norm Hahn shows Jordan and Connor a book of pictures he brought with him.
8) Ray Yannello discusses his military experiences with his student, Ryan. 9) WWII veteran Joe Kelly smiles with Logan and Bailey.
10) Peter Bachand recounts his military experiences to Skid and his son, Jack.
11) Sam Stevens smiles, as he talks to Noah.
12) John Eckhardt shows his student, Antonio, pictures from his military service.
13) Larry Sigmon sits and talks with his students, Kennedy and Ryan.
14) Parker listens to his veteran, Eddie Holder. At the end of the table, McPaul Balod shows Cordell pictures from a phonebook he brought.
15) Phillip LaBranche tells his student, Bianca, a story about his service.
16) Mrs. Banton, a counselor at PHS, poses with her father, Bob Boddy.