Students in Lynn Meadows fifth-sixth grade bilingual class along with other fifth and sixth grade classes at Chicago Heights School District 170's Washington-McKinley School marked Veteran's Day recently by welcoming district staff member and former U. S. Marine Primo Zartuche to their classroom.
Zartuche enthralled the students as he discussed his extensive military service as a veteran of the U. S. Marines, 1st Battalion 4th Marines, Delta Company, 2nd Platoon.
Zartuche, who served in the USMC from 1974-1979, regaled the students with tales of his assignments to various locales across the South Pacific. He discussed his tours of duty in locations as diverse as the Philippines, Guam, Tinian, Okinawa, and Brisbane and Cairns, Australia.
Zartuche brought along some supplies from his tours of duty to share with the students including his original Battle Dress Uniform (BDU), his Battalion yearbook. The students listened with rapt attention as they heard Zartuche discuss using his P-37 or "John Wayne" can opener to access C-Rations that were surplus from WWII.
Before Zartuche's visit, the students discussed the various reasons why people immigrate to the United States and nearly all gave the same response – people come here to be free.
Following the presentation, the students peppered Zartuche with many questions about the military including the travels, lifestyle, expectations, and his experience as a Marine. They were especially excited to try on his BDU.
In preparing for the presentation, the student s wrote thank you notes for both Zartuche and Meadows 94-year-old father-in-law, a veteran of WWII who proudly served in the Army Air Corps. The students presented the cards to Zartuche following his presentation, while the thank you notes were delivered to Mr. Meadows at his home.
The cards, notes, and sentiment that the students sent to Zartuche and Mr. Meadows deeply affected the veterans.
"The cards that the students made and their response to my experiences touched me deeply," Zartuche said.
"I sincerely hope that the students always will remember and understand the importance of our military and, most importantly, not to take their freedom for granted."
Meadows added that her father-in-law was almost brought to tears at receiving the messages from the students.
"My father-in-law, a man of few words, was overwhelmed by the students' missives. After reading each card his voice cracked as he expressed his gratitude," she said.
"He noted that there aren't many veterans of WWII still alive – 'too many good friends and soldiers were lost' – and being remembered by students who are so young was unexpected and that he was most grateful."