On Tuesday, November 10 and Wednesday, November 11, 2009, schools across the Archdiocese of Philadelphia will honor and thank veterans and active military personnel to commemorate Veterans Day.

Tuesday, November 10 at 9:30 a.m.

Epiphany of Our Lord School, 1248 Jackson Street, Philadelphia, will welcome the parish's service men and women and veterans for a prayer service followed by a ceremony in which students will present the guests with cards and letters of appreciation. After the ceremony, all will be invited to a continental breakfast where the students will have the opportunity to interact with the military personnel and veterans.

Wednesday, November 11 at 8:35 a.m.

St. Hubert High School, 7320 Torresdale Avenue, Philadelphia, will honor veterans with an assembly featuring excerpts from a book of poems entitled "Uprooted: Search for Serenity" by Michelle McCloskey Alicea, a 1994 graduate of Saint Hubert. Alicea wrote the book during her brother Kevin's recovery from double leg amputation caused by an IED explosion in Afghanistan. The book gives insight into the family's journey of recovery. A portion of the proceeds of the book, to be released on November 11, 2009, will go to The Wounded Warrior Project, to benefit other disabled vets. Following the reading, Alicea will take questions from the students.

Wednesday, November 11 at 10:00 a.m.

St. William Parish School, 6238 Rising Sun Avenue, Philadelphia, will celebrate Veterans Day with veterans from the Philadelphia Protestant Home, Crest-Lawn American Legion Post #832, Rising Sun Post #2819 and their Ladies Auxiliary at the Lawncrest Recreation Center, 6000 Rising Sun Avenue, Philadelphia. The students will take part in a flag-raising ceremony, listen to speeches from retired military personnel, present their award-winning 5th grade essays, and view a completed patriotic mural.

Back at St. William Parish School, the 5th grade will make thank you cards for the men and women who have served our country. Veterans Day will also serve as the kick-off to the school's "Sock It To The Troops" initiative, which will involve the students collecting white socks through February, before mailing them to the troops for Valentine's Day.

Wednesday, November 11 at 2:00 p.m.

St. John the Baptist Parish School, 4040 Durham Road, Ottsville, Bucks County, will honor veterans from the American Legion Post #399 by performing patriotic songs and words of freedom. In addition, an eighth grade student will portray Francis Scott Key in a brief dramatic piece explaining the words of our National Anthem.

Contact
Meredith Wilson
Communications Specialist
215-587-3747