Locust Valley High School students and staff joined World War II veterans, current servicemembers and world leaders in Normandy last week for the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasion.
Seniors Matthew Borruso, Sonny Consolazio, Michael DiLorenzo, Riley Haas, Spiro Lampoutis and Kelsey Neves submitted essays and poems as part of a contest that tasked students to demonstrate their appreciation for the sacrifices made by the brave young men on June 6, 1944.
Chaperones Daniel Durante and Principal Patrick DiClemente were joined by Superintendent of Schools Kristen Turnow, board of education president Margaret Marchand and vice president Lauren Themis in guiding the students, while also learning more themselves.
The Locust Valley representatives arrived in France on June 2 and spent the week leading up to the commemoration visiting historic sites like the Patton House near the La Fiere Bridge, which American forces held during an especially bloody battle, and speaking to General Dwight Eisenhower’s daughter and granddaughter Susan and Caroline, as well as veterans of the last Great War on Omaha Beach.
“You can sit in your classroom all day and read every textbook there is and watch every movie or documentary, but nothing compares to being on those beaches and meeting those heroes first hand,” Consolazio said.
“I think what was most impactful for me was the blend of past and present,” Neves said. “Seeing active servicemembers walk through the visitors center at Pointe du Hoc and take off their hats for those that came before them was so memorable.”
Students were shocked to see the level of reverence the people of Sainte-Mere-Eglise hold onto even to this day, as many celebrate the occasion by putting American flags outside their houses and some even don American military uniforms of yesteryear.
“It’s something I’ve never even seen in my own country,” DiLorenzo said. “It was unbelievable to see them (the people of Sainte-Mere-Eglise) be so patriotic for my country.”
The trip was a continuation of the Locust Valley Central School District’s efforts to instill an appreciation for American history in the student population and community. In September 2023, Locust Valley hosted the Remembrance Project in conjunction with Patton Legacy Sports and local organization Operation Democracy to teach a D-Day specific unit into history classes and bring a football game between American airborne units that originated at Locust Valley’s sister city Sainte-Mere Eglise, France in 1944. DiLorenzo and Consolazio took part in that game and the preceding events including a veteran luncheon and jersey signing ceremony.
In the wake of the second world war, Locust Valley worked to send money and resources over to Sainte-Mere-Eglise to help rebuild the village and gained a reputation as a selfless community because of it.
“It was important for me as the instructional leader of the district and our board that we got to see out students develop an even better appreciation for the battle that was fought there and the restoration of our sister city that we had a hand in,” Dr. Turnow said. It’s our history and I think it was important for them to see how one community could come together for a selfless cause and help another one rebuild.”