North Adams Transcript

WILLIAMSTOWN -- Five local students, reading biographies they had written about five local veterans, were the honorary speakers at Veterans Day exercises on Wednesday.

Emma Culver, Rebecca Silva, Mikey Strizzi, Brett McCormack and Sadie Sylvester, all seventh-grade students at Mount Greylock Regional Middle School, were in sixth grade when they wrote the biographies as part of an assignment that also involved interviewing the subjects of the biographies.

Brett presented on behalf of his brother, Michael, who was unable to attend the ceremony.

The students joined their sixth grade teacher, Tony Coniglio, and about 60 veterans and their families at the Richard A. Ruether American Legion Post 152 on Latham Street at 11 a.m.

"I'm glad people like my dad volunteered to go into the military to keep us safe," Culver said, as she read about her father, Stephen's, time in the armed forces.

She said her father was a pilot in the military from 1982 to 1991 after entering Norwich University in 1978 intending to become an engineer.

"He got good grades the second semester, and the Air Force offered him a 3 1/2-year scholarship and a pilot spot," she said.

During his time in the Air Force, Culver said her father flew T-37s, T-38s, B-52s and FB-111s.

"His favorite experience was flying a FB-111, which flew at 1.3 times the speed of sound at 910 miles per hour," she said.

Strizzi spoke about his

father, Dennis, a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps who served in the Vietnam War.

Strizzi said his father joined the military when he was 18 years old believing it was the right thing to do. He served from February 1966 to October 1970.

While Strizzi's father was stationed in places including Puerto Rico, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia, his least favorite place was Vietnam, he said.

"Vietnam was his least favorite duty station because of all the fighting .... He doesn't like what war does to people," Strizzi said.

Sadie Sylvester said her great-uncle, George, was attending college in 1956 when he realized if he didn't voluntarily join the military, he would be drafted -- so he attended an officers program.

At the age of 20, he was recruited for boot camp by Marine Corps officials visiting the college, she said.

"George remembers the most memorable part of boot camp was the completion of it," she said.

He then served three years in the Marine Corps, and 28 years in the reserve program, she said.

She said the most important events in his military career were when he got his commission, and when he met his future wife, Suki, in Okinawa.

George Sylvester, commander of American Legion Post 152, said having the students speak at the ceremony was part of an effort to get the community more involved in honoring and remembering those who served in the U.S. military.

Prior to having the students speak, veterans and their families gathered outside for a prayer, gun salute and the playing of taps.

"Veterans Day is a time to honor all those who served in the United States Armed Forces .... Military service changes you. It does effect your mental toughness, service and discipline," Sylvester said.

To reach Meghan Foley, e-mail mfoley@thetranscript.com.