St. Dominic Elementary School recently held a service project, inviting military veterans from all branches for breakfast at Marian Hall. Sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders, joined by teachers and principal Christopher Pugliese, mingled with veterans, presenting them with American flags and coloring pages. The event featured the Pledge of Allegiance and a prayer to St. Dominic. Eighth-graders sang along with a music video of Lee Greenwood’s classic God Bless the USA and joined Kate Smith in singing God Bless America. Offering words of thanks to veterans were student council president Cadence Groomes and classmate John Levans and second-grader Keegan Austin, whose dad John is a Coast Guard veteran. Bob O’Neill, a Father Judge graduate and Army veteran of the Vietnam War, spoke to students. So did Pat Dugan, an Army veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, who said the students’ version of God Bless the USA brought tears to his eyes. State Sen. Joe Picozzi was also in attendance. ••
