Youth recite Pledge of Allegiance to veterans on walk to school
Photo by Bill Croney, The Northfield News

Youth recite Pledge of Allegiance to veterans on walk to school

During American Legion National Commander Bill Oxford’s visit to the Department of Vermont at the beginning of October, he visited The Veteran’s Place in Northfield. The Veteran’s Place is a “community-based substance-free transitional housing program that provides homeless veterans with a place to live, get counseling, volunteer and acclimate back into civilian life.”

It’s at The Veteran’s Place where students from Northfield Elementary School who "Walk to School Wednesday" stop outside and recite the Pledge of Allegiance. Marine veteran Michael Gonneville has led the students on this walk to The Veteran’s Place every Wednesday for the past four years.

“Several of our veterans go out and join them to participate and show their appreciation,” said Karen Boyce, administrative and financial manager for The Veteran’s Place. “We look forward to their stopping every week.”

Last year on Veterans Day, Boyce said all 300 Northfield Elementary School students, their teachers and the principal walked over to The Veteran’s Place to recited the Pledge of Allegiance.