Students at Edmund W. Miles Middle School in the Amityville Union Free School District heard first-hand accounts of military service, sacrifice and leadership during the Veterans Legacy Leadership Summit, held Nov. 5 in honor of Veterans Day on Long Island.
The event brought together veterans from various branches of the United States Armed Forces, who shared their personal experiences and analyzed how military service shaped their lives, their leadership abilities and their vision on civic responsibility.
Through these presentations, students gained a deeper understanding of the sacrifices made by members of the military and the importance of honoring those who have served the country.
The program began with welcoming remarks from the lead social studies teacher, Mrs. Byrd, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance, led by National Junior Honor Society members: Emely Espinal, Keyla Perez Herrera, Richard Leach and Celeste Mendoza Uria.
Later, student and musician Juan Quintanilla performed the United States national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner,” on the cello.
Throughout the summit, students heard from veterans whose careers spanned different branches of the military and generations of service.
Featured speakers included Amityville Board of Education member and US Army veteran Juan León, who served from 2003 to 2010 as an infantryman and military medic.
León spoke about the transition from military life to civilian life, sharing his perspective on how to adapt to new responsibilities and experiences after completing his service.
In turn, Frank O’Brien, a social studies teacher at this Edmund W. Miles middle school and a veteran of the United States Navy (US Navy) – where he served from 1989 to 1999 – also recounted his experiences during his service abroad.
This gave students the opportunity to learn about military life from an educator they already know within their own school community.
“As a veteran and educator, having the opportunity to share my military experiences with our students has been especially meaningful,” O’Brien said. “Military service taught me valuable lessons about discipline, teamwork, responsibility and the importance of serving something greater than yourself.”
«These are lessons that I take to my classroom every day. “I hope that by hearing our stories, students will come to more deeply value the sacrifices made by our veterans and understand that leadership and service can take many forms, including the decisions they make in their own lives,” he stressed.
Other featured speakers included US Air Force veteran David Heller, who spoke about how his military experiences strengthened his leadership abilities; and Eric D. Farina, US Army veteran, who reflected on respect for the American flag and what it represents.
Additionally, Lenore Brathwaite, also an Army veteran, shared leadership lessons learned during her service as a medical laboratory specialist.
Meanwhile, Jeffrey Ulyse, a US Navy veteran, recounted his experiences during basic training, while Llamar Owens, a US Air Force veteran, shared his reflections on service abroad.
For his part, Marcos Benítez, a veteran of the United States Marine Corps (US Marine Corps), spoke about how his military service marked his life.
Beyond learning about military trajectories and experiences, students were invited to reflect on the qualities that define effective leadership, such as courage, responsibility, perseverance, and the spirit of service toward others.
This “Veterans Leadership and Legacy Summit” provided students with the opportunity to link classroom discussions about history and citizenship with the personal experiences of those who served their country.
Students and other members of the school community also participated in the event. The «*National Junior Honor Society2 received and accompanied the honored veterans; the school’s Photography Club documented the day; and art teacher Tyler Kundler, along with his students, designed a special welcome sign honoring the veterans and their service.
