Subscribe

By Liz Barbour

At HBHS, student-led initiatives have created a bridge connecting the school to the broader community. In the weeks leading up to Veterans Day, Hollis schools held assemblies and events to honor those who served, with each school contributing to the community’s remembrance efforts. Among these was the Veterans in the Classroom program at Hollis Brookline High School (HBHS), a day that is set aside to connect students directly with veterans through face-to-face conversations and meaningful conversations. On November 1st, the HBHS Homefront Heroes Club and the school’s new Anthropology class hosted a group of Hollis and Brookline veterans with guidance by advisors AP Government and Civics teacher Trevor Duval and Social Studies teacher Cory Kaufold.

The Homefront Heroes Club is made up of a dedicated group of students who are committed to community service through partnerships with local veterans’ organizations. The club’s creation in 2012 was student-led. Students were inspired to start the club by an HBHS Civics program called Veterans in the Classroom, which had been created the year before by HBHS junior Haley Barbour. Haley worked with her teachers to create a curriculum that would bring veterans and students together for face-to-face conversations as a way to honor and learn from those who serve our country. That first event included veterans from World War II to the Iraq War, giving students a chance to connect with history personally. Today, the "Veterans in the Classroom" program and the Homefront Heroes Club continue to foster respect, understanding, and appreciation for veterans in every Civics class at HBHS. 

Hollis VFW Quartermaster Chris Lussier participated in this year’s event. “I found that the quality of the questions asked by the students was excellent. The students clearly put a lot of work into them.” I asked Chris to share a few of the questions that stood out to him. “One student asked, ‘What was the easier transition for you, transitioning into the military or out of the military?’ I thought that was such a thought-provoking question. Each is a very different experience. When we enter into the military, we go in as a group. When we leave the military, we often leave alone, alone with our own experiences,” said Chris. 

“Another poignant question was, 'What does your flag mean to you?' It was especially interesting because it came from a student who had moved here from another country and was seeking a deeper understanding of the significance behind such an important American symbol," said Chris. “The Anthropology students asked questions from a cultural perspective. They asked about our travels and the different cultures we encountered during our service. We appreciated the opportunity to share our experiences from many different perspectives.”

Retired Air Force Captain Sue Homola has been a regular participant in the Veterans in the Classroom event since moving to Hollis. I asked her if there was a question that often arises during these discussions. She noted that one frequent point of curiosity is the difference between Veterans Day, Armed Forces Day, and Memorial Day:

• Veterans Day honors those who have served.
• Armed Forces Day honors those currently serving.
• Memorial Day honors those who died in service to their country.

This clarification helps students understand the distinct significance of each day in recognizing those connected to military service.

Both the Veterans in the Classroom program and the Homefront Heroes Club stand as testaments to the power of student-led initiatives and to the value of connection across generations. Thank you to the dedicated students of the Homefront Heroes Club, the Anthropology class, and the HBHS staff for making this meaningful exchange possible and for reminding us all of the importance of honoring our veterans year-round.