Veterans Day is November 11, and the Journalism staff really wanted to acknowledge the veterans who are working at school currently. The two veterans we have picked are: Mrs. Costa, the middle school art teacher, and Mr. Rumsey, our school safety supervisor. They have both served some time for the United States.
Can you tell me about your service?
Mrs. Costa – “I served in the United States Navy for 4 years, starting in the late 1900s and ending in the early 2000s. During my time in the service, I had the opportunity to live on a ship called the USS La Salle, which since then has been decommissioned. Its home port was Geata Italy. I also served at the Naval Hospital at Camp Pendleton in California.”
Mr. Rumsey – “I served 15 years (1977 – 1995). I started as a military policeman then went into special forces. I have been around the world around 9 times but mainly served in Central and South America and about 3 years in Germany.
What’s something you learned while serving, and what did you take away from the experience?
Mrs. Costa – “I learned the importance of a fire drill and discipline. I gained an appreciation for organizational structure. I also learned how to stay calm under pressure.”
Mr. Rumsey – “I learned how much I could be pushed, and that you can always go and do more than what you expect you can. In combat I was pushed to the limit. The hardest thing for me was losing teammates in combat.
How did your past experiences lead to where you are now?
Mrs. Costa – “Without being in the Navy, I wouldn’t be a teacher now. If I had not served our country, I would not have had the funds for college. The US Government provided the Montgomery GI Bill, which is funding for school after a service.”
Mr. Rumsey – “ From the military I went to law enforcement, and that is a long story. But because of my military experiences and PTSD, I became an addict in drugs and alcohol, that led me to become a counselor. That helped me to get this job to help students with mental health, counseling, and safety. The military was the best thing that ever happened to me. It helped me to learn more about myself than any other experience.
So thank you to these two wonderful people who have served the country and have changed our school.
