ANDOVER — As traffic sped underneath the Capt. George L. Street Memorial Bridge yesterday, teenagers and adults were busy cutting grass, pulling weeds, sweeping sidewalks, raking leaves, and picking up empty bottles and debris.
Every year, the Kiwanis Club organizes an event to coincide with Veterans Day. This was the second year it cleaned up the George L. Street Bridge, which carries Greenwood Road over Interstate 495.
"What better way to honor veterans than to honor one of our own," said Kiwanis Past President Al DeLuca, who served eight years in the Coast Guard. "To leave the bridge in disrepair is to be disrespectful to him."
DeLuca's son Michael came up with the idea for the clean-up after seeing the bridge strewn with garbage as he drove over it to take his kids to school.
"I said, 'Shame on us.' That's when I thought, 'Why not pitch in, help and be part of the solution?" Michael DeLuca said.
Helping with the clean-up yesterday were members of the Greater Lawrence Kiwanis Club, students from Notre Dame High School in Lawrence, members of the Key Club at Methuen High School and students from Comprehensive Grammar School in Methuen.
"For us, it's a small token of appreciation for someone like Captain George Street, who gave so much to his country and his community," said Kiwanis President Dave Wilson of Andover.
Street lived in Andover 30 years, and was the town's most decorated naval officer.
A longtime Kiwanian, Street served in the Navy for 29 years. He was awarded the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military honor, while commanding the submarine USS Tirante during World War II. He received the Navy Cross, two Silver Stars and a Presidential Unit Citation recognizing the entire crew of the Tirante.
Street's achievements were brought to life on the silver screen in the 1958 movie "Run Silent, Run Deep," starring Clark Gable. The movie was based on a novel by Edmund "Ned" Beach, Street's executive officer on the Tirante.
Street died in 2000 at the age of 86.
Kiwanian Jeff Shank said student volunteers learned a valuable lesson.
"It teaches them about service, volunteering and giving back," said Shankof, a resident of Derry, N.H.
Sarah Malagodi, is a member of the Key Club at Methuen High, which is sponsored by the Kiwanis Club.
"I feel good knowing that with the sidewalk clean, people will have more places to walk," she said.
Dineen Lewis, a junior at Methuen High, agreed. "It's always nice to help others and keep the community clean."
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