GMS students meet vets

GAINESVILLE - Gainesville Middle School students Wednesday morning got a history lesson that went beyond their text books. Veterans from World War II through Afghanistan came to give them a "living history" lesson.

They divided into groups, each vet with his assembly of pre-teen youngsters, to tell the story of military experience during war time, and the students, wide eyed and attentive, took notes and asked questions.

"I think it's very interesting that they could come and tell us first hand experiences that they had," said 12-year-old sixth-grader Brady Holcomb. "I learned it's not a game, its real life and it kind of shocks you."

The program continues through Thursday, a joint effort by language arts teacher Haynes Kaufman and the Northeast Georgia History Center.

"I think it's really important for the children to meet these men and women and it truly is living history," Kaufman said. "I think it's important for our children of today to learn that America has been in war and is still in war and what it means to be patriotic."

Kaufman said by listening to firsthand accounts of war and military service, the students can visualize it and see what it was like.

As part of their language arts instruction, the students will write biographies as well as writing thank you notes.

"This listening, speaking and viewing is incorporated into our sixth-grade standards but they're also learning history first hand," Kaufman said.

Dan Rado told his student group what it was like to serve aboard an escort aircraft carrier, the USS Savo Island, in the Pacific Theater during World War ll.

"They were very interested,' the Navy vet said. "They definitely paid attention, no trouble whatsoever, they wanted to know about my health, how was the food and who did you leave behind, my sweetheart, and I'm still married to the same girl."

Rado said he was glad to share his war time experience.

"The history books do not seem to want to play it up anymore for these youngsters, but it was there, and it's never to be forgotten."

Rado turned to the students and asked them if his telling of World War II aboard a "baby flat top" was interesting even if it was so long ago, in the mid-1940s.

"It was a great honor to meet someone from the Navy and the war who is still alive," said 12-year-old Daniela Olalde. "It was worthwhile, better than the Social Studies books."