Honoring Veterans All Year Long

’s new oral history video project hopes to honor veterans and troops all year long.

THS teachers Kathy Rubano, chair of the Social Studies Department, and Keif Doyle developed the oral history project as a way to explain the importance of Veterans Day and highlight the service and sacrifice of enlisted personnel and veterans.

The video venture will capture a mixture of perspectives. Interviews will include the stories of veterans and men and women currently enlisted. As one of the project leaders, Kathy Rubano looks forward to getting it started.

“In recognition of the sacrifices and contributions that our veterans have provided our country, Trumbull High School is creating an oral history project. We would like to interview members of our community who have served our country in all areas of the armed forces,” she said. 

Veterans Day, celebrated on Nov. 11, gives Americans the occasion to honor and commemorate the bravery and sacrifice of all U.S. veterans. The day was originally designated as Armistice Day and was a legal holiday that honored the end of World War I.

After World War II and the Korean War, the name was changed so veterans of all wars could be included. Students in Trumbull attend school on Veterans Day. During previous years, THS teachers independently created lessons to discuss the holiday, but Doyle and Rubano want to build a school wide program.

For the remainder of the 2010-2011 year, students will videotape and record interviews and excerpts from a variety of veterans and servicemen and women in hopes of creating a truly memorable experience for all THS students in years to come. The video will be premiered on Nov. 11.

Doyle, an English teacher and a veteran, is excited about the program and hopes to get the community involved. “The project will show how we are all connected. Even if students don’t have direct family serving, they can better understand the sacrifices being made by enlisted men and women make daily. There are so many levels of sacrifice. The project will help bind the community together.” 

Frank Tyburski, a World War II veteran, also thinks the project is a good idea. Tyburski, who was honored along with other World War II veterans by former Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz, served with his brother in Europe.

“I was in on route to Japan when the war ended. We were on a huge cargo ship for two weeks. The bunks were stacked six high or more.” After the end of the war Tyburski was stationed in Rhode Island and down south, watching German and Italian prisoners before his discharge. He was enthusiastic to share his stories.

“The project is a good idea. It is important to give students an idea of what went on. I was serving by my 19th birthday. My brother was drafted a year before me. He was married with a small child,” he said.

If you are interested in participating in the project, please contact Ruban at rubanok@trumbullps.org or 203-452-4586 or Doyle atDoyleK@trumbullps.org or 203-452-4513.