Students Salute Flag, Honor Veterans [Photos]

Students at Old Farmers Road School, in conjunction with members of the American Veterans Association of Washington Township (AVAWT), celebrated America’s veterans with a flag-raising ceremony on Tuesday, Nov. 8.

As part of its mission, the AVAWT believes that anyone who has been part of the military–not just served overseas–is a veteran, and accepts personnel and their families from all the armed forces.

While Veteran’s Day is Friday, Nov. 11, the ceremony was scheduled for Tuesday because of teacher development days and no school on Thursday and Friday this week.

Three of the school’s fifth graders assisted veterans Raymond Milhime, Marty Fleischer, and Jim Smith in raising the flag to begin the ceremony, which was followed by the pledge of allegiance.

The group of students, led by music teacher David White, took part in singing Grand Old Flag and God Bless America to honor the flag and the veterans. Students also presented the AVAWT with letters of thanks and gifts to be sent to troops currently serving in Afghanistan.

Honoring family sacrifice

Long Valley resident and mother of three, Roberta Broussard, attended the ceremony, although her sons graduated Old Farmers Road School some 15 years ago.

Broussard’s three sons, Dan Zbinden-Broussard, 25, is an Air Force 1st Lt.; and twins Jesse and Tom Zbinden-Broussard, 23, are both Sergeants in the Army.

The youngest of the three, Tom, returned from an 11-month tour in Afghanistan just a few weeks ago, and is now stationed in upstate New York.

“They’re doing what they truly love to do,” said Broussard. “This isn’t work for them. I worry about how they’ll be when they return–hoping they won’t change. But they come back just the same.

“Of course there’s worry when they have to go off or are deployed,” Broussard said. “But I have a real strong faith and know they’ll be kept safe.”

Coming from a long line of military family members, Broussard said that Tom carries bible in his pants pocket wherever he goes–the same bible his grandfather carried with him while fighting in World War II.

For her sacrifice and her sons’ commitment to the armed forces, Forrest “Woody” Burgener, the AVAWT’s adjutant, recognized Broussard at the ceremony and thanked her family for their service.

As students headed back inside to continue their school day, they shook each veteran’s hand and thanked them for their sacrifice.