Honoring Our Heroes

By Guest

CPD officer and Army veteran Eric Kascavitch receives high-fives on his way into the Luce School assembly. (CPS photo)

By Darcie Fisher

Thirteen men and women who have served our nation as members of the military came to Canton’s Luce Elementary School for the school’s annual Veterans Day Assembly on November 8. The assembly gives students the chance to express their appreciation for those who have served.

Canton Police Officer Eric Kascavitch, who serves as the CPS elementary school resource officer, told students his call to serve was prompted when he was a senior in high school watching events unfold on September 11, 2001. Kascavitch served in the Army for eight years, including deployments to Kuwait and Iraq.

“This day is important for the kids who want to give thanks for the service we provide the country,” said Kascavitch. “To see the thankfulness and happiness in their eyes is all worth it. It’s also important to remind people how important our freedoms are and to not take them for granted.”

The program featured a reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance, singing of the Star-Spangled Banner, and a medley of Armed Forces anthems. Canton Veterans Agent Arafat Knight provided a poignant moment by playing “Taps” on the trumpet.

Six fifth-grade students were asked to share essays they wrote for the assembly. Ava Goode, whose father Sean is a Coast Guard veteran and CPD officer, talked of her pride. “My dad has made so many sacrifices for my family, and also our country,” said Goode. “Veterans Day is important to me because so many people, like my dad, risk their lives so that we can stay safe and live in our free country.”

Before the formal speaking program, students lined the halls with flags and offered high-five’s to the veterans. This is the second year Navy Airborne veteran Donald Oliver has participated in the program. He served two tours in Vietnam and his granddaughter Ariana Bellini is a fifth grader at the Luce.

“I’ll tell you, the kids line up all the way along, and by the time you get to the other end you have better faith in America,” said Oliver.

“My great uncles Gene and Mark served in the Vietnam War, and my great-grandfather Robert served in the Navy during World War II,” said fifth grader Zooey Bonner. “It’s an honor to be able to have these amazing brave veterans here with us today and I thank you all for your service to our country.”

Lily Darling has been a member of the Mass. Army National Guard for 17 years. Her son Joseph is in the third grade at Luce. She says she comes to speak not just for him, but for the little girls listening.

“We need to show that little girls can do anything,” said Darling. “It doesn’t have to be certain categories of work. I also wanted to be here as a mother. Other kids probably don’t see a lot of moms who do this kind of work, so I’m here to represent women.”

“The first time I was able to facilitate the Veterans Day assembly I saw the pride and how committed our students were to ensuring that our veterans were recognized,” said Luce Principal Yeshi Lamour. “The feeling was so palatable that I wanted to continue this tradition here.”

The Luce event was one of several held by Canton Public Schools to commemorate Veterans Day.

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