Classical students honor veterans

LYNN – They entered the room like celebrities, with ushers on their arms, waving to the loud, raucous crowd that packed the bleachers in the Classical High School gymnasium.The entrance of World War II veterans Ed Ouellette, Walter Brown and Gus and Peter Belitsos seemed more like a pep-rally than a Veterans Day ceremony, but the energy provided by the students clearly moved the group of heroes, as Peter Belitsos pointed to the crowd and encouraged the screaming masses to make even more noise.While Veterans Day is recognized as a somber reminder of the sacrifices made by everyday Americans to ensure our freedom, the students were not shy in showing their gratitude for a group of men who survived some of the most difficult experiences a human could go through, their show of support filling each guest with energy and emotion.It is the first time that students in the Classical Freshman Academy, displaced to the Fecteau-Leary School because of construction, have been bussed to their future school for an assembly.”We felt like we needed to bring the whole school together as a community for this,” said Dean of Students Christine Lander.With members of the School Committee in attendance along with Reps. Robert Fennell and Mark Falzone and representatives of Senator Thomas McGee, the school chorus routinely performed as legislators and student representatives spoke words of gratitude to the men.The veterans are familiar to the school, Ouellette and the Belitsos brothers were in a classroom last week to record their stories with an honors history class, the tapes soon on their way to the Library of Congress for eternal safekeeping as part of an effort to preserve the stories of veterans before it is too late.As the event proceeded and the chorus wrapped up a rendition of God Bless America, the ceremony took on an even deeper meaning for one veteran, as McGee’s office along with senior Alexander Rittershaus announced that in honor of Brown, a proclamation to make Dec. 24 USS Leopoldville Remembrance Day was one signature away from becoming a reality.The idea first surfaced in the mind of Rittershaus, who is a friend and neighbor of Brown, who he calls Mr. Blue. The veteran was on the USS Leopoldville on Christmas Eve, 1944, part of company F in the 262nd regimen.As the massive vessel traveled through the English Channel, a torpedo from a German U-Boat collided with the 534-foot ship, quickly offering the crew of 829 men to the freezing water below.Brown was one of only 27 men to survive the attack, and only one of three in his company.Rittershaus was so moved by the story that he did some further research on his own, and found out that 12 states had declared Dec. 24 USS Leopoldville remembrance day, and set out to do the same in honor of his friend.Last Christmas, Governor Mitt Romney signed a proclamation naming Dec. 24, 2006 a remembrance day in honor of the tragedy, but the one-year marker was not enough. Now, with the help of McGee’s office, Governor Deval Patrick is expected to sign bill number 1873 next week, declaring Christmas Eve the official USS Leopoldville Remembrance Day forever.”This was an extremely moving program,” said Classical Principal Warren White. “Veterans Day is a very serious and solemn occasion, but the veterans here this morning certainly enjoyed the enthusiasm felt when they walked into this gymnasium.”