Veterans Way dedication ceremony

Green Meadow Elementary School hosts a dedication ceremony for the access road behind school to be named Veterans Way.

In the lead up to Veterans Day last week and schools celebrating the holiday, Green Meadow Elementary School hosted a dedication ceremony at the Board of Education meeting on Wednesday evening.

In honor of veterans and their service to the nation, Green Meadow named the access road behind school as Veterans Way.

Green Meadow Veterans Way street sign

The new sign for Veterans Way at Green Meadow Elementary School.

The Board of Education approved the resolution at the public meeting and the street sign was unveiled to those in attendance. The sign is blue with white letters that says “Veterans Way” with the East Greenbush CSD logo above it, and on the left, logos of each of the military branches.

“Green Meadow and the East Greenbush Central School District have a longstanding tradition of honoring our veterans who have selflessly served our country,” said Green Meadow Principal Daniel Garab. “It is an honor to dedicate this road to our veterans.”

The road was built in 2020 to accommodate the increasing number of parents who were driving their children to and from school because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Up until now, the road had no name.

Green Meadow 2nd Grade Teacher and Student Council Co-Advisor John Flanagan suggested the name of Veterans Way as he reflected on the school’s Veterans Day Parade held in November 2021.

Green Meadow Veterans Day Parade in November 2021.

Green Meadow Veterans Day Parade in November 2021.

The usual Veterans Day assembly had to be reconfigured due to NYS Department of Health guidelines on social distancing. So the Green Meadow staff moved the event outdoors and turned it into a parade with veterans driving on the access road that was lined with more than 100 American flags and cheering students and staff.

“We didn’t want to give up our Veterans Day because they’re everything to us,” said Mr. Flanagan as he showed photos of the parade at the dedication ceremony. “It was just a wonderful day.”

Green Meadow hosted its traditional Veterans Day assembly on Thursday morning in the school gym with a special entrance of veterans, student performances and the VFW Post 7337 demonstrating the proper way to fold a flag. The event concluded with the veterans in attendance driving in a parade on Veterans Way.

“Our veterans do so much for our country and our community,” said Superintendent Jeff Simons. “Dedicating the road on the Green Meadow campus and naming it Veterans Way shows our school district’s appreciation for our veterans’ service, sacrifice and loyalty.”

Special thanks to the East Greenbush CSD Facilities Department, Head Custodian George Wyant, Director of Facilities Paul Bickel, Teachers John Flanagan and Jaimee Kusche, Principal Daniel Garab, the Green Meadow Shared Decision Making Committee, and Rensselaer County Tax Services Department.