Freeport
HERALD Leader
Freeport honors 9/11 victims
Village welcomes new business
USDA kills geese by accident
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Vol. 85 No. 38
SEPTEMBER 17 - 23, 2020
$1.00
WWII POW keeps sharing his story be able to do it this year,” Bernie added. “But I’m glad I can continue to keep doing this.”
By RoNNY REYES rreyes@liherald.com
Nearly wo decades ago, World War II veteran Bernie Rader, of War and survival Freeport, now 96, started sharRader was drafted into the ing the story of his imprison- U.S. Army in 1943 at age 19, and ment by the Nazis with audienc- became a rifleman. Although he es other than his family and had poor eyesight, a friend friends. helped him pass the Joined by his Army’s eye exam, he wife, June, Rader said, by whispering recounted his tale to the answers to him. visitors at the FreeA ye a r l a t e r, port Memorial Rader landed at Library in 2003, and Utah Beach in Norsince then, the coumandy, France. By ple, now married 67 Oct. 2, 1944, he was years, have told his on the move across story in schools and the west coast of libraries across France as part of a Long Island as well 55-man patrol tasked as in Connecticut, taking out GerBERNiE RADER with Florida and France. man soldiers who While the Raders’ World War II veteran were guarding normal routine was roads. interrupted by the Rader said his coronavirus pandemic, they held patrol received word of German their first-ever virtual presenta- soldiers in the area who wanted tion at Adelphi University in to surrender, and it was the July. patrol’s job to locate and interro“We’ve told this story about gate them. But the tables turned 300 times now, but it was our when the Germans ambushed first time doing it over some- Rader’s patrol, which held out thing like Zoom,” June said. “We for six hours against German were a bit awkward, but every- machine guns, grenades and one was so nice and thanked us.” mortars. “We weren’t sure if we would Continued on page 5
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Courtesy Freeport Public Schools
TEAchiNg ASSiSTANT RoBERTA Shapiro welcomed one of her fourth-grade students back to the Archer Street School as Freeport students returned to classes on Sept. 8 and 9.
It’s back to school in Freeport District holds first day of classes — twice By RoNNY REYES rreyes@liherald.com
Freeport students returned to classes on Sept. 8 and 9 for in-person learning for the first time since the school district closed in March as the coronavirus pandemic ramped up. “After many months of working collaboratively with administrators, teachers and parents on developing an approved reopening plan that meets the health, safety and
wellness needs of our students in these challenging times, it was rewarding and inspiring to see our goals become a reality,” district Superintendent Dr. Kishore Kuncham said. “It was wonderful to see our schools come to life, and to see the enthusiasm of our staff and students. Thanks to our students, staff and parents for making the first day of school a success, and to our Board of Education for their ongoing support. ”
“I was excited to be at the high school, Dodd Middle School and Atkinson School, and it was great to see the kids back,”said Maria JordanAwalom, a Board of Education trustee. School principals greeted their students and, along with teachers, guided them to their classrooms as they reviewed changes in the buildings and the new safety protocols to follow. Continued on page 10
’m always grateful for the opportunity to share my story. It’s a part of history.