PORTSMOUTH — The Hathaway School community had two things to celebrate during its annual Arbor Day event on Friday: Month of the Military Child, and the life of School Committee member Allen Shers, who passed away in November 2021.

As students gathered around the “Hathaway Habitat,” an outdoor learning space and garden, they heard songs and poems shared by children from military families. Then a medley of military songs was played  as students whose parents have served stood up and waved flags when each branch of the Armed Forces was announced.

Principal Lisa Little told the gathering that students from military families has given the school community a unique perspective. “We’ve learned so much about what military life is like,” she said.

To honor Shers, a London plane tree donated by Rhode Island Energy and prepared by the town’s Department of Public Works was planted nearby as members of the Portsmouth Tree Commission looked on. Mr. Shers’s wife, Regina Shers, and his sister, Dawn Maitz, pitched the first shovelfuls of dirt for the planting. 

“We are planting this tree in Allen’s memory,” said Town Council Vice President Leonard Katzman. “Allen was a dedicated member of the Portsmouth School Committee, serving the community from October 2015 to November 2021. Throughout his term on the committee, Mr. Shers worked diligently to serve the students, families, faculties and staff of the Portsmouth community.” 

Shers was also active on the Portsmouth Water and Fire District, the Housing Committee of the Portsmouth Comprehensive Community Plan, and the Newport County Board of Realtors.

School Committee Chair Emily Copeland said she loved Hathaway’s sense of community and efforts to help others, “and I think Mr. Shers embodied that. He worked to make Portsmouth and Portsmouth schools a much better place.” 

Regina Shers thanked everyone for coming out to honor her late husband. “You just can’t imagine how good this makes me feel,” she said.

Kindergarten students sang “A Beautiful Day,” and indeed it was.