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Pulaski News & Events
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Living
Lessons in American History
(November
2004) Librarian
Rose D'Orsogna
(with the help of the Riverhead VFW commander) invited veterans
to speak to the students as part of her "living lessons"
in American history series. Fifth
graders study American history, and the fifth graders at the
Pulaski Street School spent a period listening to veterans
of the armed services as part of the school's celebration
of Veteran's Day.
Specialist Clifford Benjamin shared with the students his
experiences as a twenty-year veteran in the Army. Spec. Benjamin
served in Kuwait and most recently in Iraq as part of the
878 Engineers out of Georgia. "We had none of the extras
that they have now," explained Spec. Benjamin. "The
war started in March, and we arrived in June. I was in Iraq
for one year and one month and in the Guard for 20 years.
It's hard to adjust to be being back home. I'm trying to put
my family back together after being gone for so long. It's
hard."
A student asked if he was ever afraid. "I was a special
education student, and I was afraid a lot. I've made the best
of the talents that I have been given, and I've been through
a lot, but I'm not afraid any more."
Another student asked, "In twenty years, what was the
scariest thing you had to do?"
Holding up a map, Specialist Benjamin answered, "In Iraq
I was a truck driver, you don't know who the enemy is out
there. Driving that truck down that long road and not knowing
what was going to happen was really hard, but we made the
best of it, and I was very lucky. I made it home. I've got
my twenty years in and I'm retiring, but I'd go back again
as a civilian if I got a chance. We're fighting for their
freedom over there and those guys and girls over there now
deserve our help."
"I felt privileged to hear him speak," said Suzanne
Norbury, the librarian aide at Pulaski. "He was so honest
and genuine."
One young lady summed it up her way, "He was cool. That
guy has been through a lot, but he's cool."
He's a veteran.
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