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Derby's St. Mary-St. Michael School honors veterans with ceremony- The New Haven Register - Serving New Haven, Connecticut

DERBY — With Veterans Day falling on Sunday this year, students and staff at St. Mary-St. Michael School honored more than a dozen veterans Friday.

Many of them were related to students at the school.

“We remember all of the men and women who have served our country with courage and bravery,” Principal Linda Coppola said.

Resident Bernard Williamson, a Korean War-era veteran of the Marine Corps, told students Veterans Day “is when we honor all veterans, not just those who have passed away.”

James Hubbard, who served in the Army, 1954-56, said although his unit did not travel overseas, he trained hard. “I jumped out of an airplane 18 times,” he said. “The first time I was in a plane, I jumped out of it.”

Coppola told the veterans: “You are heroes and we’re so glad you took time out of your schedule to share your stories with our students.”

Eighth-grader Amelia Carloni of Derby commented, “It’s good to know what (the veterans) did in the past, to know about people who served this country.”

 She said her late grandfather, Richard Carloni, was in the service.

Cmdr. “Gus” Williams, John H. Collins Post 24, American Legion, and Harry Hanson of Wolcott, a member of the Connecticut Air National Guard, presented a Community Americanism Award to Coppola for her years of teaching students to honor veterans.