Warwick Valley Middle School students and staff host Valentines for Vets breakfast

WARWICK — It was Valentine's Day.
And on Thursday, Feb. 14, administrators, faculty, staff and students at the Warwick Valley Middle School welcomed local area veterans to their 11th annual "Valentines for Vets" breakfast.
The purpose of the annual event is to show our veterans how much they appreciate their service with a breakfast prepared by the Home and Career classes and entertainment by faculty and student musicians and Guitar Club along with E'lissa Maynard's Wire Choir Group.
The event, which was held from 8 to 9:30 a.m., began with a welcome and introductions by Principal Georginna Diopoulos, followed by a Flag Salute and singing of the National Anthem.
Guest speakers that morning were Joan Rueckert and Paul Myruski.
Rueckert, a teacher at the school, stressed the contributions made by our veterans and how important it was for the students to get to know them.
Wearing his uniform as a Sgt. 1st Class, Myruski, who recently retired from teaching music at the Warwick Valley Middle School for 22 years, gave an interesting history lesson about the New York Guard, the state defense force.
Myruski explained that with the advent of World War II, New York National Guard units were federalized and the New York Guard was created for service to the state because there had to be a defense force available in the event, however remote, of an invasion by the enemy.
Immediately after breakfast, student hosts and hostesses presented Valentines to all the veterans.
- Roger Gavan