Military veterans recount war experiences with Toms River students

Each November, students at Hooper Avenue Elementary School in Toms River hear first-hand from America’s greatest heroes, those who fought for the freedoms we enjoy today.

It was the 9th year the school has invited war veterans from the different military branches as well as various wars/conflicts to come speak to students this week, according 4^th Grade teacher Douglas Hynoski, one of the program’s organizers.

Before the veterans fanned out to individual classrooms, they gathered in the school's gym for a reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance and a performance of patriot songs by 1st and 2^nd grade students. The school also was presented with an American Flag from our nation’s capital by one of Congressman Tom MacArthur’s aides.

Dick Rieger of Toms River served in the U.S. Navy submarines division during the Cold War, from 1957-1963. He has participated in Hooper Avenue Elementary School’s program for several years and also visits other local schools.

“It’s just a nice way for the people to let the Veterans know that they respect what they did, and they honor them in a way,” said Rieger. He brings along props when he visits the schools and noted the children are always curious about the submarines and ask a lot of questions about it. “The kids really eat it up,” he added.

Charles Carre’, a U.S. Army veteran, served in World War II. He was proudly wearing an army sweatshirt and a M1 helmet and sitting at a table with a mortar shell.

“Coming to speak to the students is a great challenge for veterans to be able to impart our personal experiences to young people who have been getting information so warped and so discombobulated, that it’s good to be able to sit in front of them and one of them and explain exactly what it was all about,” said Carre.

He explained why the kids are very surprised when they hear his story. “Simply because the books that are available were written back in 1948, ‘50, ’52. These kids are 10, 12, 14-years-old, so to get it first hand, and to see someone’s reaction as they’re telling the story is great. It’s so satisfying that it’s unbelievable.”

Ed Handville of Toms River, A U.S. Navy veteran who served in World War II, also spoke to the students last year and praised the school for putting the program together.

“It’s the best lesson you can get. What better lesson is there, to learn from people from the past and for us to see what’s going on now. I mean this is a big lift for me to see that these kids really care and the principal and the school really care,” said Handville.

Jack Mascola, a U.S. Army veteran, served during World War II. “We’re all proud of the service that we gave and we’re glad that our country is still free and we fought for that purpose.” said Mascola.

Although he is 96-years-old and has difficulty seeing, Mascola feels it’s important to continue sharing his experience.

“There are a lot of distractions in this world today because of technology and too many of the young people, or many of the young people are you know involved in things to me that don’t seem meaningful and I regret what I see in some areas where the history of our country has been relegated to a side subject and is not important anymore. Very few people understand or know history,” Mascola said.

Mascola was drafted after his first year of college, and pointed out that college kids today know less than his high school crowd knew about the past. He added, “I think that the history should be regenerated in the education system.”