Assemblyman Ed Ra (R-Franklin Square) kicked off his annual Veterans Portrait Project on Thursday, Sept. 19, at Notre Dame School where eighth graders had the honor of meeting and interviewing 23 local veterans. The project invites students to create portraits and biographies of the veterans they meet, providing a unique way for them to engage with history. Over the next few weeks, students will work on capturing the veterans’ stories, which will be showcased at the Long Island Children’s Museum in November in commemoration of Veterans Day.

“History is brought to life through personal stories,” said Ra. “By giving our students the chance to speak directly with the veterans they study in school, they can gain a more meaningful understanding of the history that continues to shape our world.”

“This project is something our community and I eagerly anticipate every year,” Ra continued. “It’s inspiring to see the students’ creative interpretations, and I’m excited to see the unveiling of their hard work in November. A heartfelt thank you goes out to every veteran who has generously shared their story.”