In an effort to give students a true appreciation of Memorial Day and the sacrifices that families in our nation have made throughout history, Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School’s Students Organization of Unified Leaders club, and its advisers Joseph Mannix, Jaime Suarez and Deanna Zapata, hosted a Memorial Day Walk. The goal of the event was to walk one lap on behalf of each American soldier killed in action in both the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. “We gather here today to honor our heroes, to remember their achievements, their courage and their dedication, and to say thank you for their sacrifices,” said junior Jennifer Villalta.
The event kicked off with an opening ceremony that featured a performance by the Madrigal Choir, a special reading of the Gettysburg Address from social studies George Schroeder, and recognition of faculty and staff members with active duty family members. Participants also took a ceremonial first lap, honoring 39 men and women from Nassau and Suffolk counties who were killed in action. “These 39 heroes lived among us and probably had many of the same experiences that we as Long Islanders share,” said Mr. Suarez. “They too had family and friends who are today feeling their absence. These 39 heroes, just like all the other 6,611 heroes who have not returned home, represented the first line of defense of the liberties we so cherish. We owe them and their families a great debt. Today, we gather publicly to say thank you to each of them and their families. Today, we come together to say their name and to walk in their memory, so that we may never forget their sacrifice.”
During the first lap, participants walked quietly behind American flags to the cadence of drummers while carrying posters with the name and photo of each of the 39 fallen Long Island heroes. Throughout the rest of the day, as a motivational tool for volunteer walkers, members of the Hip Hop Club and a student band provided ongoing entertainment.
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