AUBURN — Edward Woolley, 90, became a celebrity Thursday at Edward Little High School.

At a “Take a Veteran to School” ceremony, Woolley was the only one there who served in World War II. There aren’t many left, Col. Jack Mosher of the Maine Army National Guard said.

After the ceremony, which was filled with history, speeches and music, a line formed in front of Woolley. People waited to meet him and shake his hand.

“Can I take a picture with you?” one man asked.

Joseph Rossignol, 17, looked into Woolley’s face, shook his hand and seemed to get emotional when Woolley gave him advice: “Do the best you can.”

Woolley, who goes by the name Mike, was surprised by his reception. “It’s mind boggling,” he said.

Edward Little hosted Take a Veteran to School Day to put a face on those who fought in wars, thank them, and teach students that Memorial Day is more than the start of summer, organizer and teacher Paul Beauparlant said. The event was sponsored by Time Warner Cable of Maine in partnership with the Maine Army National Guard.

During the ceremony, the student band and chorus performed patriotic music, including songs of the Army, Marines, Coast Guard, Air Force and Navy.

In his dress uniform,  Col. Mosher said every veteran “is precious, a national treasure. Any chance you get to sit and talk with one, take that time. Really lend them your ear. Ask them questions. Learn about perspectives in American history.”

Seven students gave speeches about the history of Memorial Day and each war, from World War II to Afghanistan.

The Afghanistan War was in response to 9-11 to fight terrorism and get Osama bin Laden, which Navy Seals did in May of 2011, student Magneta Silberman said. In Afghanistan, 1,893 troops have been killed. “Freedom’s not free,” Silberman said. She asked Afghanistan veterans to stand. They stood and received a standing ovation.

The Iraq War started over suspicions of weapons of mass destruction, Matt Yarnevich said. During the combat part of the war 139 troops died, during occupation more than 4,000 troops were killed. He asked Iraq veterans to stand. They received a standing ovation.

The Gulf War was in response to Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait in 1990, Zachary Tannenbaum said. The brief war drove Iraq out, but 258 men died. Tannenbaum asked Gulf War veterans to stand. They received a standing ovation.

President Lyndon Johnson invaded Vietnam in 1964 to stop the spread of Communism, Ben Davis said. The costs were high, Davis said, with 58,220 Americans killed in action and 150,000 wounded. He asked Vietnam veterans to stand. They received a standing ovation.

The United States went to war in Korea after North Korea invaded South Korea in 1950, Alia Abdulahi said. In that conflict 33,686 Americans died in battle deaths, another 2,830 in non-battle deaths, and there were more than 8,176 missing in action. She asked Korean war veterans to stand. They received standing ovation.

Jordan Richmond said the United States stayed out of WWII until Japan bombed Pearl Harbor in 1941. Americans fought in three major theaters, Europe, Northern Africa and the Pacific. More than 405,399 Americans were killed. He asked all WWII veterans to rise.

Eyes turned to Woolley, who uses a walker and needed help to stand. Vietnam war veteran Dane Tripp sprang from his seat, put his arm around Woolley and helped him stand. A smiling Woolley accepted the audience’s standing ovation.

Like other Vietnam vets there, Tripp wore blue jeans, a sleeveless shirt, a vest with a “Combat Vets Association” logo.

He said he became a Marine and was sent to Vietnam at 19. “I had no idea what a war was,” he said. He served two tours between 1966 and 1969, and was wounded in 1969.

“War is a one-man show,” Tripp said. “Every person’s got their own survival technique.” Today Vietnam vets are helping younger Afghanistan and Iraqi vets “get the services they justly deserve,” he said. “We’re like elder statesmen.”

Tripp, who lives in Poland, said he appreciated Thursday’s ceremony. “It’s great. I’m glad someone’s acknowledging us.” After Vietnam, “vets were treated like dog doo.”

bwashuk@sunjournal.com

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