EXETER— According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, 1.8 million female veterans serve as a living reminder of the sacrifice that women have made and continue to make for the nation.
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The St. Mary Academy-Bay View community has vowed to pay tribute to the courageous women of the armed forces during a year-long effort to identify, locate and contact as many New England female veterans as possible so that they may be honored in a celebration November 10 of next year.
A bus filled with Bay View students traveled to the Women’s Monument at the Rhode Island Veterans Memorial Cemetery to take part in a special service to recognize service-women, past, present and future and to learn that Veterans Day is more than just a day off from school.
“Usually when people think of veterans, they think of men,” said sophomore Victoria Milhomens. “Today was a very important reminder to help out the women vets who are not recognized like they should be.”
Fourth-grader Caroline Mahoney said that it was a wonderful chance to give thanks for all of the veterans who have helped to keep the country safe.
“This is a great opportunity for us to talk about the women who have served,” she said. “We all want to be leaders when we are older.” Lia DelSesto, director of alumnae relations at Bay View, has the grand task of stewarding the stories of the women veterans and to share their legacy with the Rhode Island community.
“It is my role today to put out the call for women of substance, women of impact and especially women of service to this nation,” said DelSesto. “We want to hear from you, connect with you and get to know you, as one year from today we will gather at Bay View Academy to honor you regardless of religious affiliation.”
Veteran’s Day holds a very special meaning to Sophomore Mariela O’Neill, who is eager to serve her country once she graduates high school.
“I always wanted to be in the army,” she explained. “Serving this country would be the greatest experience of my life.”
During the service, O’Neill shared that women who have served have shaped the nation. So, in gratitude for their service, Bay View will begin the project of serving them.
“This project will last for 365 days and beyond as the young women of Bay View Academy begin the process of service and education and continue Catherine McAuley’s Mercy mission as well as the mission of this institution,” she said.
As part of this initiative, Bay View is also planning a yearlong education supplement. Diane Morel, Bay View History Department chair, said that the multi-faceted educational ventures will be brought to life throughout the entire school.
“We are uniquely positioned to make this effort one that can provide learning for our girls in language arts, history, art, music and technology,” said Morel. “I am sure this outreach will energize our students and the entire Bay View community.”
Campus Ministry Director Sister Liz Hathaway, said that she is looking forward to putting the Mercy mission into action.
“This initiative does so much to bring the Mercy mission alive for our girls,” she said. “The opportunity to aid the women of service who sacrificed and admirably did their duty on behalf of our nation is one that will produce benefits for our veterans and our girls.”
During the ceremony, special guest veterans spoke to the girls and thanked them for their thoughtful project. Army Col. Susan Luz, a Bronze Star recipient, was the highest-ranking woman in the 399th combat unit in Iraq. She is a best-selling author, having released “Nightingale in Mosul” this year and is a proud Bay View Alum. The students defined Col. Susan Luz as “a shining example” of the impact of the academy.
“I am very happy that my Alma Mater is taking on this most important effort to celebrate and honor women in the military,” said Luz, “Bay View remains a leader in women’s education and when combined with the Mercy mission this initiative promises to be very exciting, emotional and have a long lasting impact on the veterans and the student body of Bay View.”
Principal Colleen Gribbin said that the effort promises to bring the school’s Mercy mission together with a yearlong teachable moment for the students.
“Our students and faculty are prepared to bring history to life by bringing veterans into the classroom as well as reaching out of the classroom to speak about actual events. This promises to be a unique learning experience for all. I am sure our girls will be wonderful monitors and advisers on the progress of this project.”
Gribbin added that there is potential for real hands-on and innovative learning from this project.
“I am always buoyed by the enthusiasm of our faculty and our young women and their willingness to participate, engage, serve and learn,” she said. “This is a very important day for us at the academy, I speak for our students and our faculty, as we collectively move forward to advance our mission and impact lives in order to serve the greater good.”
Bay View seeks any woman who has served the United States of America in any branch of military service. If you are or know such a women, contact the Lia Del Sesto at 434-0113 ext 104 or via email at press@bayviewacademy.org.
