our lady of hope

Potomac Falls Students Reach Out to Senior Neighbors

By Angela E. Pometto
HERALD Staff Writer
(From the Issue of 11/23/06)

Once a month, middle-school students from Our Lady of Hope School in Potomac Falls visit the West Falls Center at Falcons Landing, a retirement home directly behind the school.
There are usually 10-15 students — some receive service hours for confirmation class and others are putting their faith into action, according to Daniel Heenan, religion and social studies teacher.
The monthly visits have given the students a chance to get to know the residents and vice versa.
“We want the kids to reach out to the community,” said Mary Beth Pittman, resource specialist at Our Lady of Hope.
In honor of Veterans Day, retired Army Col. Wilfred Rogers shared his experiences during World War II and the Korean War. Rogers graduated from West Point Military Academy in 1945. Because of the war, the Army was anxious to get soldiers trained and into battle, so Rogers finished a four-year education in three years.
After graduation he was sent immediately to Germany, but the fighting had already stopped. Soon after he arrived, General George S. Patton died, and his wife requested that he be buried alongside his troops in Europe. Rogers, having just graduated from West Point, was put in charge of the honor guard for Patton’s funeral.
Rogers saw his first taste of combat in the Korean War, where he commanded a troop of nearly 200 soldiers.
“There’s a lot of pressure because you’re responsible for the welfare of that company,” he said.
The Potomac Falls students asked if he was ever scared in combat.
“I’m a human being, and yes, you get scared,” he said. “But you overcome it fast.” He knew he needed to be strong for his troops so they could go into battle and face their fears.
Rogers was in the military for 30 years and one month.
“I have no regrets about being in the service,” he said. “You don’t get rich, but you meet some wonderful people.”
Rogers told the students that he enjoys using the Internet to look up information. When the students asked if he’d ever googled himself online, the 83-year-old bashfully answered yes.
After the talk, students lined up to shake hands with the “war hero” and say their farewells — until next month.

Angela E. Pometto can be reached at apometto@catholicherald.com.