A happy Valentine’s Day at Andersen

Danette Goulet

NEWPORT BEACH -- A heartfelt celebration of the red, white and blue

meant green for Andersen Elementary School this Valentine’s Day.

Dressed in patriotic ensembles, on a stage decorated with large

construction-paper hearts painted in the colors of the American flag,

students performed rousing American favorites in memory of the school’s

namesake, Roy O. Andersen, who passed away in December 1999.

“He was so happy. He spoke of it often -- how great it was to have

such a wonderful school named after him,” said his widow, Marge Andersen,

who presented the school with a check for $5,000 for library

improvements.

It was Marge Andersen’s desire to make the generous donation that

inspired the event, said Mary Manos, the school’s principal.

“She’s been wanting to come and has been offering the $5,000 since he

passed away, and this just tied in beautifully because he was such a

patriot,” Manos said.

And so dozens of kindergartners tried to march in unison as they sang

“We Love the USA,” led by Andersen’s music teacher, Keith Squyres.

Squyres taught each class two patriotic songs -- some traditional,

some not so traditional. Fifth-graders were able to incorporate their

geography knowledge as they sang about “the 50 nifty United States from

the 13 original colonies,” which was followed by a musical recitation of

the states in alphabetical order.

As an extra treat, Manos dug up the guest list from the school’s

opening ceremony 27 years ago, when it was named for Andersen. Those same

VIPs -- State Board of Education member Marian Bergeson; Andersen’s

original principal, Scott Paulsen; former Newport-Mesa Unified School

District Supt. John Nicoll; and the recently retired Orange County

Department of Education Supt. John Dean were present once again.