Students honor memory of Pearl Harbor

Avon Lake’s Learwood Middle School, 340 Lear Road, held its annual Pearl Harbor remembrance ceremony Dec. 8.

For the 76th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, Learwood students and staff honored sacrifices.

The American Legion Post 211 Avon Lake Honor Guard were on hand and members began the ceremony with the reading of a benediction before presenting a ceremonial 21gun salute and the ringing of a bell to honor fallen U.S. servicemen followed by the playing of taps.

“The object here is to, as the American Legion, is to honor the sacrifices of those who served on Pearl Harbor that day,” said Commander Ernie Minichello. “And to instruct the students as to a piece of American history that ought to be pivotal as far as us getting involved in World War II and the effect that has had on our lives.”

The annual ceremony was started more than five years ago by current Avon Lake Council-at-Large member John Shondel, a military veteran and Jan Staley, a staffer at Learwood.

Learwood Principal Vishtasp Nuggud has continued the tradition during his five years at the middle school and maintained strong links to military history and the contributions

of veterans.

“At Learwood Middle School, we take pride in honoring the military and the veterans for what they have done for us,” Nuggud said.

“We do a huge Veteran’s Day program, but Pearl Harbor is another time we celebrate our military history.

“For most of these kids, they weren’t even born when 9/11 occurred, so we do it as a reminder that this wasn’t the first attack on American soil. This is a piece of history that we value and want to commemorate.”

Learwood eighth-grade

student Jackson Bolognia was selected by teachers and was presented the opportunity to read the ceremonial proclamation outlining and honoring the history and heroic actions of U.S. military personnel.

“I’m really excited, but I’m also really nervous because I really was surprised

when I was picked and I’m just excited,” Jackson said. “I obviously wasn’t there to witness it.

“But from what I’ve learned in social studies, it was a terrible attack and it caught everyone by surprise. And if I was there that day, I would’ve been really scared.”

KEVIN MARTIN — THE MORNING JOURNAL Eighth-grader Jackson Bolognia reads a ceremonial proclamation at Learwood Middle School’s Pearl Harbor remembrance ceremony on Dec. 8 at 340 Lear Road in Avon Lake. Jackson was selected by a group of Learwood teachers and he was joined by Avon Lake’s...