Kearney girls honored vets

They paid tribute to medalwinners, and for their efforts, got certificates of theirown.

On Friday, February 18,Colonel Michel Gould presented nearly 40 Bishop Kearney High Schoolgirls with an Army certificate of appreciation for their trip toWashington, D.C., where they honored Wounded Warriors and retiredveterans.

It was in October of lastyear that the juniors and seniors – and chaperones PatriciaHynes-Farragher and Claire Razza — set off on their adventure,touring such landmarks as the Lincoln Memorial, WashingtonMonument, Jefferson Memorial, the Capitol Building, the SmithsonianMuseum – even the Pentagon.

They even saw the oldestliving Tuskegee airman.

It was the second time theschool had arranged the trip.

“While seeing all thesesights was very fun and a great part of the trip, our main motivefor going was to show our gratitude and support for the WoundedWarriors currently in the Mologne House at Walter Reed MedicalCenter and the veterans residing in the Armed Forces RetirementHome,” said Erin Tacopina, one of the students. “The veterans weremore than happy that we had taken time to visit them and deliversome home-baked cookies and other goodies”.

“Just our presence at thehome lifted their spirits.I genuinely enjoyed just sitting there with them and listening toall their stories. All of us Kearney girls could not begin to thankthem enough for all they have sacrificed defending us and theircountry.”

And as another way of sayingthank you, the Kearney girls handed out pajamas they had collectedfor the sons and daughters of wounded soldiers in the MologneHouse.

“This trip gave me thechance to show how truly grateful I am to these men and women fordefending our country, protecting our freedom, and ensuring we livehappy lives,” said Tacopina. “If given the opportunity, I wouldjump at the chance to take a trip like this again. I learned so many things and willcherish my experience on this trip for the rest of mylife.”

Hynes-Farragher echoed thesentiment.

“We look forward to doing itagain next year. Kit gives the girls a sense the cost of freedomand it makes them proud to be an American. They get a really goodsense of appreciation and really feel fulfilled.”