Family Focus

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UNFORGETTABLE MOMENTS

Lessons Of Service

Hillel students learn from war veterans.

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Hillel students Claire Yerman, center, Autumn Jacob, Aidan Folbe, Leah Reed,
Erin Graub and Shayni Shecter with Ralph Zuckman of Clover Hill Cemetery.

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n Monday, May 24, a group
of students from Hillel Day
School of Metropolitan
Detroit commemorated Memorial Day
by gathering around Rabbi Adler's
grave in Clover Hill Park Cemetery in
Birmingham, listening to local Jewish
war veterans speak about their experi-
ences.
The veterans shared stories of cour-
age and sacrifice, and explained the
honor of laying flags on the graves
of Jewish veterans. We would soon
understand how meaningful the next
couple of hours would be.
As with most field trips from our
Farmington Hills schools, we boarded
the bus laughing and joking around,
looking forward to spending the
day outdoors. The full weight of the
responsibility for this task had not yet
been considered.
The somber atmosphere of the cem-
etery and the solemn words of the vet-
erans prepared us to begin our work.
The power of this day was evident on
our faces as a flag was placed on the
first grave and the inscription on the
headstone was read aloud. We began
to realize that some of these men and
women were only a little older than
we were at the time of their passing.
We looked to each other and acknowl-
edged that there was a serious job that
needed to be done.
Many of the students, who are either
members of Student Congress or are
Student Ambassadors, came not only
to see soldiers' graves, but the graves

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of their family members as well.
Eighth-grader Jesse Adler said, "I
stand there and before me is the grave
of my Aunt Esther. Today, like most days,
I am wearing the necklace that was hers.
I kiss my hand then touch her grave, the
same for my other relatives. Today is my
birthday, and I am glad to have spent
it with my relatives who are no longer
here. It meant that much more to know
that I was sharing this special day with
the Jewish veterans who gave so much
so I could celebrate this and many more
birthdays to come'
Claire Yerman, another eighth-grad-
er, said, "Every time I pass Clover Hill
Cemetery in the car, I hear my mother
say, 'Hi Mom: Today I had the chance
to see my Bubbie and great-grandpar-
ents. I took a couple moments to read
the gravestone. Following my mothers
lead, I said, 'Hi, Bubble! Not only do I
feel connected to my family, but also
to those who I have had the chance
to place flags on their graves — my
adopted family."
Even though the day was scorching
hot, no one wanted to leave. We were
eager to read more names and think
about the countless stories of those
laid to rest. We climbed back our bus,
hot, tired and filled with a deep sense
of respect and awe for those who gave
so much for our country. ❑

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Jesse Adler, Claire Yerman and Leah Reed
are eighth-graders at Hillel Day School in

Farmington Hills who all contributed to

this story.

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June 10 • 2010

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