‘Month of the Military Child’ Salutes Bedford High School’s Hanscom AFB Students

April 26, 2022

April, according to the Department of Defense, “is designated as the Month of the Military Child, a time to applaud military families and their children for the daily sacrifices and the challenges they overcome.”

Bedford school leaders, and their counterparts at Hanscom Air Force Base, extend their admiration throughout the entire year.

Children of families assigned to Hanscom have attended Bedford High School since an agreement was executed in the early 1960s. This year there are about 95 military dependents in grades 9-12.

“We are honored to support our military families, which is a unique honor for very few communities within the commonwealth,” said Superintendent of Schools Philip Conrad.

Get The Bedford Citizen in your inbox!



“These students “bring such diversity of experience to BHS. By the time they are in high school, they have lived in a wide variety of places, different states, and countries. This gives them a unique view of the world that benefits all of us who have the opportunities to be with them.”

BHS Principal Heather Galante concurred. “Many of the students offer other students at Bedford High School global insight and exposure to different perspectives. As a result, our students have an increased curiosity and inquisitiveness which allows for a deeper high school experience.”

Sarah McGinley, representative of military students as a non-voting member of the School Committee, pointed out that the town’s “commitment to diversity is really strengthened” by this cohort. “We are lucky that this is an integral part of the Bedford educational community. We should do everything we can to support them; it’s an honor to have them.”

“Children in military families have to overcome unique challenges,” stated Col. Katrina Stephens, Hanscom Air Force Base installation commander. She saluted “partnerships like the one we have with Bedford High School, especially because of how well-versed their staff is in working with our military-connected students.”

“The team at Bedford High School is knowledgeable and supportive of the unique circumstances that come with families who are new to the area, like the social, emotional, and academic adjustments,” the colonel said.

Laurel Wironen serves as Hanscom’s school liaison, working with parents, educators, and command to facilitate students’ school-to-school transitions.

“We have a fabulous relationship with the Bedford Public Schools,” she declared. “They have always taken into consideration what military-connected students bring to the table. They are very knowledgeable in academic credits, in graduation requirements, and very supportive of the transition for military-connected students.”

She pointed out that “one of the biggest challenges is the academic transfer of credits and state requirements for graduation. Students can land on the BHS doorstep any time from all over the world.”

Speaking about support services, Wironen said, “Many of our families have several layers educationally. I make sure there’s no hiccup; that’s a key part. We are happy to connect our families with all of the faculty and staff.”

Col. Stephens said, “We’re fortunate to have Laurel Wironen here. Having that support helps families know they’re landing in a place where their children’s education is a priority.” She noted that Wironen actually serves as liaison not just for Hanscom but “with every Massachusetts school where our military-connected families are called to serve.”

Families living at Hanscom also applaud the high school, while also acknowledging the unique challenges that transcend the classrooms, hallways, libraries, and playing fields.

Bree and Capt. Wesley Hester’s three children have attended schools in five communities – and that’s just in North America. Hester is a captain in the U.S. Coast Guard.

“Our kids come with such a wealth of information and knowledge – my kids have traveled the world,” Bree Hester testified. “My kids have been to a lot of places in the books they read.”

“It’s really hard to keep them academically where they need to be – the rigor is different everywhere you go,” she said. “My kids have done an amazing job and I’m really proud of them. But we have to supplement a lot.”

Her two oldest are at BHS; “the school is wonderful, really welcoming and accepting,” Hester asserted. “I think they do a good job to see that each group is represented in decision making.” But she added, “It’s just hard to assimilate in this community.”

Galante acknowledged, “The children of military families sometimes move frequently, making it difficult to build relationships and feel connected to their school communities.  Though they build resiliency, adaptability that will serve them well in life, the challenge of starting over can be a hardship for many kids.”

“I’m still trying to get into the community,” said BHS sophomore Ava Hester. “It can be so hard with small-town teenagers trying to make friends.” She acknowledged that this hasn’t been a problem for her brother Will, a senior, but “I’m not like that. It took me a while to talk to these people because of how intimidating it was.”

“We have a lot of different challenges, more than a lot of other kids,” she continued. “Other kids find it crazy if they’re changing any part of their lives. We are really good at big changes in our lives; that’s not something they can relate to.”

“It can be super isolating and alienating,” she said, “Every time I say I’m a base kid there are people who think there is some huge mystery about it — that we have a whole different way of living.”

Wironen acknowledged that there’s a “social-emotional piece of high school. It’s hard coming into a new high school and making those relationships.” Brian DeChellis, the BHS counselor assigned to military dependents, is “the initial welcoming piece,” along with Galante and her administrative team, she said. DeChellis “helps connect students to a variety of resources that meet their interests and needs.”

Bree Hester said DeChellis, is “a huge asset.” And her daughter added, “My guidance counselor is amazing. It’s astonishing how much he pays attention to each student.”

“I don’t want it to seem like we don’t like this town,” Ava stressed. She has had a couple of jobs in the town – working now for New England Nurseries – and has made some close friends at work. “A lot of my friends are in theater – people who share a common interest with me.”

The Hesters have lived in Charleston, SC; Elizabeth City, NC; Sacramento, CA; Kansas; Cape Cod; and Washington, DC. Their most recent assignment was in Germany.

“You know what you’re signing up for, but you don’t know what that looks like,” Bree Hester observed. “The experiences that we had and the things we got into doing as a family make it worthwhile.”

“You really just have to put yourself out there and hope people will welcome you,” said Hester, who is a member of the BHS School Council and the Parents Diversity Committee. “I do that for myself and I do that to meet other people.”

Since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, it has been much more difficult to access Hanscom AFB. That contributes to the isolation, Hester commented. “As the mom of a lacrosse player, I would love to have team dinners at my house. But I can’t get 45 kids here and that makes it really challenging.” Clay Hester, an eighth grader at Hanscom Middle School, cracked, “We live in a gated community.”

Hester had a suggestion for residents: “Nothing is more appreciated by us than to be invited to something.”

“A lot of us don’t have family around and sometimes it’s really lonely,” she said. “We spend a lot of time by ourselves because people don’t think of it – and I don’t expect them to think of it.”

Housing on base is not monolithic; it comprises all five military branches. Hester said most of her husband’s colleagues live off base, so at Hanscom “there’s no Coastie community, no spouse get-togethers no wardroom events. I wish someone would invite us for the holidays. If you meet a military community, be nice to them. Be welcoming.”

“They’re so used to forming new communities – they jump in to help out,” said McGinley. She has experienced life from both sides. Her husband, Col. Michael McGinley, was activated from the Air Force Reserve in 2016 to open an innovative unit in Cambridge. They lived on base for two years, “sharing a duplex with a mid-level enlisted family.”

“Hanscom was my first time living on a military base, and it really opened my eyes to how resilient families are, how they are able to adapt,” said McGinley, who moved to Bedford with her family in 2019. “How lucky we are to have this community in our back yard.”

“For me as a commander,” Col. Stephens said, “it means so much to know that our Hanscom families are welcomed and supported by our neighboring communities and that we have resources available here to ensure they are set up for success.”

Mike Rosenberg can be reached at [email protected], or 781-983-1763

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Subscribe
Notify of

2 Comments
Newest
Oldest
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Bob Clark
April 27, 2022 4:20 pm

Thank you for the very nice article. I went through the Bedford School system. It was an honor to have students from Hanscom join the Bedford School system. Many students from Hanscom joined Bedford High School in grades 9-12. The students were great, knowledgeable and friendly. It was an honor be in classes with everyone and they treated everyone with great respect. The Bedford Community is very fortunate to have people from all walks of life.
Thank you again and so glad Hanscom has been a great part of our School system for so many years.

Bob Clark
April 26, 2022 9:43 pm

Thank you for the great article. I went through the Bedford School system and it was always an honor to have Hanscom students join us and be a Huge part of our High School years. The people from Hanscom are wonderful people and brought so much to our School. Great people with a vast amount of knowledge, friendliness and it was always a pleasure to interact with all people in our classes. A great honor to be a huge part of our Community and so glad the Bedford High School continues this great program.

All Stories

What’s Bedford Thinking about the Red Sox?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...
  • Junior Landscaping
Go toTop