Scarsdale Kindergartners, Vets Honor Teacher

Kindergarten students dressed in red, white and blue and Scarsdale veterans donning their dress uniforms held a ceremony Thursday to honor one special teacher.

Quaker Ridge Elementary School Kindergarten Teacher Jeanette Johnson received a plaque and honor from the American Legion Post 52 for "outstanding service in promoting Americanism."

For the past 11 years, Johnson has taught her students about democracy and ended her lesson with a program for kindergarten students and local veterans.

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"Her devotion to the cause of democracy has been outstanding," Thomas Adamo, Commander of Post 52 in Scarsdale, said.

Johnson, one of four kindergarten teachers at Quaker Ridge, started the democracy lessons with her students after 9/11.

"I felt the kids really needed to learn what Veterans Day is about," she said, noting the children learn about veterans, the Pledge of Allegiance and what it means.

Normally, this veterans program is held in November, around Veterans Day and before Thanksgiving, she said. However, due to Hurricane Sandy, the program date was pushed back this year. 

"This really is our Thanksgiving celebration," Johnson said. "We are thanking them for their service. These are our heroes–our American heroes."

She said the veterans who attend are incredible with the students, and the children remember the experience in later years.

This year, the veterans had a special surprise–bestowing Johnson with the plaque for all her years of teaching and promoting "Americanism."