Vets share life stories

By G. Michael Dobbs, Managing Editor

CHICOPEE Military veterans Willie Jiles and Lennie Costa have made some mistakes in their lives and they're hoping the eighth grade students they spoke with at Fairview Middle School on Friday don't make similar ones.

Jiles and Costa are both speakers in the Veterans Education Project from Amherst. They travel to schools in the area speaking about the effects of addiction and violence.

They were asked to come speak at the school by the Reverend James Gregory, who has a child attending the school. Gregory is also the chaplain at the United Veterans of America shelter for homeless vets in Leeds.

Army veteran Costa said he speaks several times a month to school groups and concentrates on "self-disclosure," understanding the problems one might have and seeking help.

"It's very satisfying," he said. "I never had an opportunity to talk. I tell them don't be afraid of your parents. Try to get some help."

He noted that one student came up to him after class and admitted her father strikes her mother and asked for help.

Costa said that he came from a dysfunctional family and his fear prevented him from addressing his problems.

"There was enough fear to keep things bottled inside," he said.

For him, release came through drugs and alcohol.

Jiles was a state wrestling champ before entering the Army. He said he didn't like school and at age 49 is still trying to make up for educational ground he lost years ago.

"I made wrong decisions," he said.

He, too, battled addiction.

He said students need to find a reason to stay in focus and to remain in school, but that is difficult, as social standards have changed.

Jiles said students today have too many distractions and not enough role models.

He advised the students to enjoy the summer, "but get ready to get back to business."

"You don't have to be a statistic for a broken world," Jiles said.

And they made a positive effect on many of the students who said the talk was emotional, but informative.