Students learn from one of their own

While many around Berwyn paused to reflect on those who served the country, Lincoln Middle School students spent a portion of Veterans Day learning what war is like in the 21st century from a local veteran.

Army Spc. Sergio Moreno, a 2003 Lincoln Middle School graduate and 2007 Morton West High School graduate, spent his Veterans Day speaking to seventh- graders at his former middle school.

Moreno returned to Berwyn earlier this year after spending three months training at Fort Bragg, N.C., before being deployed to Afghanistan for nine months.

The 21-year-old Berwyn resident showed students pictures and video from his time in Afghanistan, and left students gasping when he told them temperatures ranged from nearly 140 degrees in summer to 40-below zero in the winter.

“It feels good to tell people about my experiences,” Moreno said.

Lincoln seventh-grader Donte Jones approached Moreno following his presentation. Even though he is more than five years from being eligible, Jones said he was interested and intrigued by Moreno and was thinking of joining the Army when he becomes of age.

“It was cool to hear what the Army does and how they do it,” Donte said.