Veronica Connor Middle School students raised $225 during a Veterans Day poppy sale. In front of the school's Giving Tree, they presented the money to representatives of the Pfc. Charles N. DeGlopper Memorial Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 9249 and American Legion Grand Island Post 1346 on Wednesday. Students pictured are sons and daughters of active duty veterans. From left, front row: students Pearl Sciolino-Coffey, Hannah Susman, Alex Shivers, Alizia Shivers, Aidan Payne, Aleksander Pyc, Liam Snyder, Avery Snyder. Back row: veterans Al Prame, Alan Lee and Peter Kuszczak, teacher Robert Hennessy and Dawn Hayes, who organized the students; and veterans Ray DeGlopper, Rick Bonarek and Garry Deutschlander. (Photo by Larry Austin)
Sat, Dec 23rd 2017 07:00 am
Funds raised to help support DeGlopper Memorial expansion
By Larry Austin
Island Dispatch Editor
Students at Veronica E. Connor Middle School presented money to Island veterans organizations from funds raised during the first-ever Veterans Parade in the district.
Just before Veterans Day, Island veterans were invited to Grand Island High School and Connor Middle School to be honored in a parade through the halls of the schools during the school day. VCMS students held a poppy drive, and raised $225. The school presented the money Wednesday in the library.
Ray DeGlopper, post commander of Pfc. Charles N. DeGlopper Memorial Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 9249 (named for his uncle) accepted the donation, joined by members of the DeGlopper Post and the American Legion Grand Island Post 1346.
The money will be used for the ongoing DeGlopper Memorial Expansion Project.
This is the second year the students have conducted a poppy sale project, said Principal John Fitzpatrick.
"Grand Island's the most giving community, honestly, ever," said Fitzpatrick. "You could pretty much look at every month in the school year. There is some type of charitable event taking place where the kids or teachers are organizing the kids to give back to the community in some way."
Teachers Robert Hennessy and Dawn Hayes advised the students in the fundraiser.
