War veterans share stories with youngsters

The members of the Hopelawn Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 1352 said they look forward each year to sharing their experiences with area elementary students.

KATHY CHANG World War II veteran Steve Halkovich, who at 95 years of age is the oldest member of the Hopelawn Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1352, shows fifth-grader Benjamin Jackson, 10, a picture at Menlo Park Terrace Elementary School on Nov. 11. "Before you know it, you will be our new leaders in our country, whether it is in the industry, politics — maybe one of you will be our new governor some day or some of you may join the military," said Steve Cserr, who has been commander of the Hopelawn post for 22 years.

Cserr, 88, served in the U.S. Navy duringWorldWar II.

This was the fourth year that members of the post came to Menlo Park Terrace Elementary School No. 19 on Nov. 11 to share their experiences with the fourthand fifth-graders of the school. The visit was also a remembrance of Veterans Day.

Cserr said they couldn't hold their event without help from the school's principal, Sharon McGreevey, and the VFW Post 1352 Ladies Auxiliary.

The members brought old photographs and tokens from their days during their service.

Cserr brought his sailor uniform, which he said used to fit him.

"I can't believe I used to fit in this when I was 21 years old," he said with a laugh as he held his uniform up against him. "I even tried to wear the Navy dress hat that doesn't fit … I wonder if my head has grown larger from that time."

Cserr told the students that he was drafted into the Navy and served in the South Pacific from 1943 to 1946.

"I served on an LST [landing ship tank]," he said.

Cserr also showed the students a Japanese flag he had found in a bag in 1946.

Eddie Witos, 88, who reached the rank of sergeant with the U.S. Army, told the students that he was honorably discharged from the Army. He showed the students the letter that he received letting him know that he had been honorably discharged.

"Being honorably discharged means you are entitled to medals in the state of New Jersey and the nation," he said. "I was a fourthgrade technician with the Army and reached the rank of sergeant. If you goofed, you did not get a certification."

Bob Schmidt, who served in the Korean War from 1953 to 1954, described to the students what the VFW Buddy Poppy program was about.

The poppy was adopted as the official memorial flower of the VFW of the United States. For more than 85 years, the program has raised millions of dollars in support of veterans' welfare and the wellbeing of their dependents.

"We wear our poppies with pride," said Schmidt.

George "Tracy" Kachur, 88, served in the U.S. Navy during World War II from 1942 to 1946.

"I know some of you some day will join the service," he said. "The thing that is new nowadays is men and women are serving side by side. Women during our time only served on the bases."

Kachur added that he is buddies with everyone at the post.

Tony Romano served in the Korean War from June 25, 1950, to June 27, 1953.

"Korea is divided by the 38th parallel, which also runs through New Jersey," he said. "But Korea and New Jersey have different temperatures because of the high mountainous regions in the country. It gets very cold in Korea."

Steve Halkovich, who is the oldest member of the Hopelawn post at the age of 95, is a veteran of the U.S. Navy. He brought old pictures for the students to see as well as a framed photograph of the USS South Dakota battleship he was stationed on.

"I was on the ship for about four years from 1942 to 1946 during World War II," he said. "I was amazed how big the ship was and I remember feeling frightened … I was a skinny fellow at 140 pounds."

Halkovich told the students that the ship was 680 feet long and 105 feet wide and held 2,300 sailors. The guns on the ship could shoot projectiles 80 feet long.

"When it was time to go home, it took me 45 days to get from Japan to Norfolk, Virginia, on the ship," he said.

Marie Kaleta, a member of the Ladies Auxiliary, displayed numerous photographs of her husband, Adolph Kaleta, who served with the 12th Army Air Corps in Italy between 1943 and 1945. He has since passed away.

Cserr stressed to the students that if they take anything from their visit, it is that it is important for them to stay in school.

"We live in a great country," he said. "We have freedom and liberty, good living, and good education. Others in other countries are deprived of having a good life; some don't have liberty and freedoms like we do … a lot of countries are not like us."

Bailey Grabowski, 10, a fifth-grader, said she enjoyed hearing the history about each veteran. David Wells, also 10 and a fifth-grader, agreed and said he liked all the questions that were asked.

Kimora Harrell, 10, and Bianca Lopez, 10, both fifth-graders, said they liked hearing about the experiences of the veterans.

"We want to thank them for our freedom," they said.