Patriot Club is a newly active club at FM High School that is dedicated to supporting active duty military personnel, their families, and military veterans. The organization has not been around since the 2019-2020 school year and is excited to make a difference in the military community.

FM senior Madison Brown was a member of Patriot Club when she was a freshman and is president and founder of the club this year. Brown said, “I was first a part of the Patriot Club as a ninth grader, and I found it to be a very rewarding experience, working with and supporting veterans and current members of the military. It was during the COVID-19 pandemic that the club wasn’t able to have those experiences, and I felt that it was important to reconnect with the military. Our veterans and service members continue to need and deserve our gratitude. That’s why I restarted the club this year.”

This year, the club’s other officers are Vice President Rachel Alpert, Secretary Devin Hack, and Treasurer Erin Schwedes. Members of Patriot Club are also led by their advisor, Mrs. Hajduk, a veteran who is greatly dedicated to the club’s volunteer work in honoring military members and veterans.  

Patriot Club has already participated in a few fundraisers over the past couple of months. On November 5th, members from the group went to the New York State Fair grounds to serve breakfast to local veterans as a way to honor their services as Veterans Day was quickly approaching. Later that day, those members walked in the Veterans Day Parade, holding the FM Patriot Club banner and passing out candy to viewers. 

The club’s most recent fundraiser was the pizza sale on November 30th. Members were selling slices of Pavone’s pizza after school in the House 1 Foyer, and the event was a huge success! All of the pizza was sold after only 20 minutes, and the club raised $106.50. The fundraiser was held to raise money to send care packages to troops overseas. 

When asked what her favorite part of Patriot Club is, Madison Brown said “Definitely the direct interactions I have with military members, either current or veterans. It is extremely rewarding to be able to hear about their service and to support them in any way that we can. Whether it be creating care packages or serving breakfast on Veterans Day. It’s a small token of thanks for all that they have done and continue to do for our country.”

Patriot Club meets a couple of times every month in Mrs. Hajduk’s room, 2106, and is always welcome to new members!