Former Navy officer Rob Fumanti visits Work of Art Learning Center in Exeter

EXETER – While most schools were closed on Veterans Day, Work of Art Learning Center on Wyoming Avenue was open for business, celebrating our nation’s vets with former Navy officer Rob Fumanti.

Gina Malsky, founder and director of the school for children from pre-K to 5 years old, wanted to create veteran awareness for the children.

“We have Rob Fumanti, who is the dad of Samantha Fumanti, a 4-year-old student here at school and we have Madison Dompkosky, who is the former 2017 Miss Pennsylvania Outstanding Teen, and her platform was veteran awareness,” Malsky said. “We try to do awareness programs on special occasions like Martin Luther King Day when schools are out but we stay in school.”

Dompkosky, of Mountain Top, a senior at Wyoming Seminary, was on hand to speak to the children about why her platform is still important to her.

“My platform when I was involved in the organization which I still continue to this day because it’s very dear to my heart is called ‘Thank a Veteran’ coming from a huge line of military members,” Dompkosky said. “Just growing up with that in my family has really taught me to be appreciative of my freedom and it’s definitely not free. Thanking veterans is just something we can do to show them our appreciation.”

Fumanti, a product of Wyoming Area and the Naval Academy, served from 1992 to 2001 and reached the rank of lieutenant during the Gulf War.

“It was great to be asked to speak to the children,” he said. “I spoke at Wyoming Area when I was at the Naval Academy, but it’s been a while since I did a Veterans Day thing. This was fun and the kids were actually pretty good.”

Fumanti spoke to the children about his time in the Navy and showed them a short video on veterans.

Miss Sandy, one of the Work of Art teachers, said students drew special Veterans Day pictures for Fumanti.

“We taught the children veterans are brave, cooperative and heroes,” Sandy said. “In addition to drawing pictures, we taught the kids to sing ‘You’re a Grand Old Flag.’”

Fumanti explained to the children what he did while in the Navy, showed them his squadron’s photo and had them pass around the bars from his uniform before watching the video.

Dompkosky quizzed the children on the flag, its importance and what veterans mean to them.

Rob Fumanti shows children at the Work of Art Learning Center a medal he received while in the military.

https://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/web1_Vets1.CMYK_.jpgRob Fumanti shows children at the Work of Art Learning Center a medal he received while in the military. Aimee Dilger | Sunday Dispatch

Rob Fumanti talks to children at the Work of Art Learning Center in Exeter Monday morning as part of A Veterans Day program.

https://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/web1_Vets2.CMYK_.jpgRob Fumanti talks to children at the Work of Art Learning Center in Exeter Monday morning as part of A Veterans Day program. Aimee Dilger | Sunday Dispatch

Children at the Work of Art Learning Center sing ‘Grand Old Flag’ on Veterans Day.

https://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/web1_Vets3.CMYK_.jpgChildren at the Work of Art Learning Center sing ‘Grand Old Flag’ on Veterans Day. Aimee Dilger | Sunday Dispatch

Miss Pennsylvania Outstanding Teen Madison Dompkosky talks with children at the Work of Art Learning Center about veterans and the flag.

https://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/web1_Vets4.CMYK_.jpgMiss Pennsylvania Outstanding Teen Madison Dompkosky talks with children at the Work of Art Learning Center about veterans and the flag. Aimee Dilger | Sunday Dispatch