All of Connecticut's veterans who gave their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan were honored Thursday at Danbury High School. An outdoor school-wide rally included a student presentation of a $1500 donation to the Female Soldiers Forgotten Heroes Foundation.

Students Matt Hanrahan and Christopher Dedebbio of the Peer Leadership group presented the money which had been raised in part by the 600 students who attended the Homecoming Dance.

 As a memorial to the lives of Connecticut's fallen heroes, DHS students and advisory created an entire wall of photos of the veterans. Each photo was surrounded by a hand crafted wreath that incorporated elements of the lost veteran's life.

The school's ROTC US Air Force (Retired) Aerospace Science Instructor, MSgt. Hector Hernandez, stared at the wall of Connecticut's soldiers whose lives had been given for their country and said, “I am so proud as a veteran to see such a patriotic atmosphere at DHS. I am also very proud to have served our country and also proud of our ROTC students.”

At the rally, students filled the bleachers while the presentation was held on the new football field.  DHS Principal Gary Bocaccio, Ashish Rao, president of the DHS student body, Matt Hanrahan, president of the senior class, Carmella Calafiore, teacher and DECA advisor, and DECA students were joined by Bill Madaras, who lost his son Nick on Sept 3, 2006 in the war in Iraq. Last year, the students had raised 1000 soccer balls for the children of Iraq through Madaras's organization, Kick for Nick.

Standing stock still in front of the wall, two ROTC students maintained the stoic decorum the event deserved. Madaras admired the wall, and noted the photo of his son in the upper right hand corner of the wall. He said, “The student body was totally involved. There was absolute silence throughout the rally, and the students spoke each of the names so clearly and thoughtfully.”