Giving Back to Those Who Served

By Brenda Lentsch

Commack High School students and staff, representing Etchings, the high school’s annual arts and literary magazine, visited residents of the Northport VA Medical Center. The veterans and students enjoyed an afternoon of shared poetry, creative writing, and refreshments. In addition, the students presented a gift of $250 to the VA’s Recreational Therapy program.

Etching’s faculty advisor, Kevin Dineen, shared that students “wanted to donate the proceeds of our magazine sales to the men and women who have given so much to our country.”

It was the second year the Etchings group visited the veterans, one of the most eagerly anticipated events of the school year. According to Etchings Editor-in-Chief Meaghan Mahoney, it was an afternoon of common connections, in which the students and the veterans “were able to share deep and meaningful poetry,” along with many stories and laughter.

Mahoney enthusiastically commented that there “…is something so incredibly satisfying about using the power of words to brighten someone’s day. Over time, I have come to know the therapeutic power of poetry, and with this knowledge comes the desire to share the healing effects of it with others. So, since we couldn’t bring the veterans to Etchings, we brought Etchings to the veterans.”

VA Recreational Therapist, Lynda Page, said, “The second annual intergenerational visit of Commack High School students with the veterans was once again a huge success! The Veterans thoroughly enjoyed the poems the students wrote with smiles and stories shared by all. The cookies and baked goods were a delicious surprise. We are looking forward to their next visit in the near future.”

Photo by Kevin Dineen (back row, 4th from left) of Etchings staff and, VA Recreational Therapist Lynda Page (on right, back row), and veterans with check for $250 for the VA Recreational Program.