Local High School Students Host Veterans’ Breakfast

Londonderry High School students treated local veterans to a special breakfast in their honor before the Town’s annual Veterans Day Parade on Saturday.

Senior Eryk Bean braved the chilly morning to welcome guests outside Matthew Thornton Elementary School’s gymnasium with a bagpipes performance, setting the mood for the celebration.

Student members of Londonderry High School’s Pay it Forward Club stood by in the parking lot with golf carts, ready to provide door-to-door service for anyone who wanted a ride; and friendly faces greeted veterans and their guests as they entered the elementary school, encouraging them to enjoy the event and help themselves to a warm breakfast.

Veterans also enjoyed an address from local American Legion Commander Bob Stuart and a presentation by the high school band.

“It’s a wonderful thing they do here. To see the kids giving back means a lot to us,” said Doug Ball, who served in the Army from 1975 to 1979.

“People complain about kids getting into trouble, but when you look around here you see all these kids doing their families and their countries proud,” said Eugene Grivois, a Vietnam veteran who served in the Marines from 1961 to 1967.

Grivois said when he and fellow vets of the Vietnam War returned home, they weren’t treated well.

“It’s nice to be treated this way. It makes up for a lot,” he said.

Londonderry High School Assistant Principal Katie Sullivan said about 100 veterans and their guests attended the breakfast, the same as last year.

Sullivan said she is especially grateful to students, teachers, and sports teams throughout the School District who put together gift baskets for the veterans to take home, as well as to the Town Council and School Board, who helped fund the event.