MERRIMACK – High schoolers today are not even old enough to remember hijacked airplanes crashing into the World Trade Center towers and the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001, so it is only natural for them to know very little of the Vietnam War of the 1960s and 1970s.

The Merrimack High School students who listened to Vietnam veterans speak Wednesday likely don’t realize that during that turbulent time half a century ago, they could be drafted for military service at 18. This would send them to the jungles of Southeast Asia where they could be exposed to not just the Viet Cong, but also Agent Orange.

Then, for all their trouble, they would come home and be called “baby killers” and spat upon by anti-war demonstrators.

This is the third year for school officials to invite veterans to speak with students about the war. Social studies teacher Allen Lemay said every year, he organizes this event by seeking veterans who are willing to speak with students. Lemay said he also tries to get at least one person from each military branch: Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines.

Lemay reached out to local VFWs to see if anyone would be interested in coming to the school. Faculty and staff members also helped Lemay network to find enough veterans to host a panel. Lemay said this was the third year coming back to Merrimack High School for four of the panelists, while two of them returned for their second year.

The visiting veterans and panelists were:

• Jim Covatis, Marines,

• Max Quayle, Army,

• Bruce Boardman, Navy,

• Bob Williams, Air Force,

• Andy Desrosier, Army,

• Carl Clark, Air Force, and

• Andy Demers, Army.

The students sat in the school’s auditorium for a few hours, deeply engaged. “You see how much these students pay attention to the veterans when they are speaking,” Lemay said. He said they made the event longer this year, because the students were so interested in the past.

During the panel, the veterans shared the true, raw details of their experiences while serving. Students also had the opportunity to ask questions. Questions ranged from whether the veterans were still in contact with the people with whom they served, to what their worst experience was coming back from war.

The veterans shared stories of being spat on and being called “baby killers” when returning home. They spoke of going to Southeast Asia unprepared, despite the training.

They also talked about Agent Orange, and how the government never told them they were going to have the health problems they have now.

Multiple veterans shared with the students that visiting and sharing their experiences helped them cope. Covatis said, “I thank you,” to the students.

Williams said, “Every time I do this, I feel that much better.”

At the end of the panel, Lemay said to students, “We want you to just remember exactly what these guys went through. Notice that it was not easy for them to be here today, was it? You heard their voices crack a little bit because they’re going back to places that they’d rather not go to mentally.”

Lemay spoke of the importance of sending people into someone else’s country for the right reasons. “Some of the guys who come back alive, don’t come back the same,” Lemay said.

After the panel discussion, the visiting veterans were invited to join students for lunch. Lemay said 10 Merrimack restaurants, a grocery store and even a hair salon donated food.

“I’m really impressed with all the restaurants in town and how they care about their veterans,” Lemay added.

Students seemed to appreciate the presentation. Junior Logan Patch said he believed the event was “info-driven” and gave him a lot of knowledge on the Vietnam War. Patch added that it opened his eyes to all that the veterans sacrificed and how much some continue to take for granted.

Junior Abby Forbes was able to relate to the event, after having a grandfather who served during the Vietnam War. “I found this very informative,” Forbes said, adding that she found it interesting to learn what truly took place.

Junior Allison Camara also had a grandfather who served. She said listening to the veterans’ experiences helped her better understand her grandfather’s life.

“It was interesting, but heartbreaking,” Camara said.

Grace Pecci may be reached at 594-1243, or at gpecci@nashuatelegraph.com.

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