Thanking Veterans -- And One Hard-Working Teacher

Newtown Middle School 8th-grade Social Studies teacher Andrew San Angelo didn't expect anything like what happened Monday morning at VFW Post 308: after a ceremony honoring Newtown's veterans, Commander James Rebman called him to the podium.

"I had no idea what was happening," San Angelo laughed. "I thought I was in trouble!"

Instead — with students from San Angelo's cluster looking on — Rebman presented him with a specially-minted Challenge Coin bearing Newtown's name and iconic rooster logo. The token is typically given to veterans, but occasionally presented to civilians who have performed "special service" to help those in the military.

(The story of the Challenge Coin, which dates back to World War I, is a fascinating read in itself.)

What could a middle school social studies teacher do? It started five years ago when Newtown's Board of Education voted not to give students the day off for Veteran's Day.

"It was something we weren't really comfortable with," said Rebman in his introductory remarks. "We notice now it's probably for the better. The kids learn more at school about veterans and what they did than if they were at the mall or something."

San Angelo wanted to give students a chance to learn about veterans' service. So he began taking them to the VFW to watch the yearly ceremony. This year, 90 students from a group of three classes joined in, sitting on the hill outside the building on Freedom Defenders Way.

"They're able to go up to veterans to ask them about their service," said a still-surprised San Angelo as students did just that following the ceremony.

One by one, students filed by, shaking hands and offering thank-yous to veterans. As colleagues and friends dropped by to offer their congratulations, San Angelo looked at the coin and took a breath.

"I'm blown away," he said. "I came here expecting to thank them for their service. Instead, they're thanking me."

San Angelo wasn't the only teacher who worked hard to make sure students got a connection to history Monday.

Students from schools across Newtown learned about veterans, including at Newtown High School, which hosted a lunch for veterans featured on Principal Chip Dumais's blog, and Middle Gate Elementary School, where First Selectman Pat Llodra spoke.