Purple Heart Recipient Speaks at Richfield Springs CSD During Veterans Day Assembly | Community [Video]

RICHFIELD SPRINGS, N.Y. — With Veterans Day just a few days away, Richfield Springs Central School District invited a Purple Heart recipient and nationally renowned motivational speaker to participate in their annual Veterans Day assembly on Friday.

The assembly consisted of a posting of the colors by Hugick Purcell Shepard Post 616, the American Legion and Central Valley NJROTC, followed by a drill sequence, POW/MIA Table Ceremony, a Veteran Recognition Presentation and guest speaker Sgt. Rick Yarosh.

Yarosh has toured the country, both solo and with Sweethearts & Heroes, a student-empowerment and empathy-activation program that aims to prevent bullying and suicide.

Yarosh was deployed to Iraq during the Iraq War back in 2005.

Nearly a year later, on Sept. 1, 2006, an improvised explosive device detonated under his vehicle, severely injuring Yarosh.

For six months, he fought through second- and third-degree burns on more than 60 percent of his body.

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