Page 20 - AAA Magazine – AAA Ohio Auto Club – January 2021

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I was a Safety Patroller in 1939 or 1940 at Wilson Elementary in Zanesville, Ohio. I got up early in order to get to my post. I just enjoyed doing it – getting the kids safely across the street. When the weather was bad, that was the hardest part.
We did have one neighbor that didn’t follow the rules. He would not stop for us when we had children coming across. We called the police on him and they gave him a talking to. He yielded after that.
Donald Davis Delaware, Ohio
I was the first Columbus Patroller (1938 at Milo Elementary). That’s what I was told. Mr. Young, our principal, interrupted class and asked the teacher if he could speak to one of the students in his office and pointed at me. I thought, what the hell did I do now?
I was named captain of our Patrol and was sent off to assemble a squad. We trained in the schoolyard with fishing poles. I had to be there first to make sure all
the boys were there. I was so proud being a Patroller. You can’t believe it.
Leno Bevilacqua Columbus, Ohio
Editor’s note: Bevilacqua credited his time with the Safety Patrol to many of his life’s accomplishments. Before he settled into life as a successful businessman
in central Ohio, Bevilacqua served five years as a mechanic in the U.S. Air Force in the European theater. He was named squad leader, attended war crimes trials in Munich, and participated in the Berlin Airlift. Said Bevilacqua, “I traveled through Italy, France and Germany. I was thrilled. I did things I never dreamed I could do.”
Our Safety Patrol story is from my hometown of Bucyrus, Ohio. We attended Carlisle Elementary School in Bucyrus. This photo was taken at our swearing-in in 1966. From
left are Jean Gardner of Bucyrus AAA; Nancy Holloway, Captain; Stephanie (Harrison) Sterritt, Lieutenant; Officer Stanley of the Bucyrus Police Department; Forrest (Frosty) Frizzell, Lieutenant; and our fourth-grade teacher Miss Eleanor Chipps. I learned basic flag etiquette, including proper folding, in Safety Patrol. We appreciate the opportunity to share our fond memories as part of the centennial anniversary of the AAA School Safety Patrol.
Nancy Holloway Canal Winchester, Ohio
This is my photo from 1962 (sixth grade) sporting my School Safety Patrol belt with a Captain badge. I was
very proud to wear the badge as I felt in charge
of the other patrollers. I do remember I was anxious for school to let out every day as we patrollers got to leave class a little early to put
on our belts and grab our orange crossing sticks with a flag on the end. Oh, the good ole days. (I had a habit of cutting my own bangs.)
Eva (Alfred) Thiel London, Ohio
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This is the crossing guard pin I wore in 1953 at Bridge Street School in Elm Grove, West Virginia. Students had to be selected by the teachers to have the honor of holding this position. I felt so special and took my duties very seriously. At the end of eighth grade,