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SOUTHINGTON — Students all over the Southington school district — no matter their age or gender — can now be seen making a similar fashion statement and, more importantly, a statement that they support an important cause and embrace civic responsibility.

Last week, each classroom in Southington was provided with wristbands donated by Creed Law Firm in Bristol. The wristbands were sold to students and school staff for $2 each, with 100 percent of the proceeds going to the Fisher House Foundation. The organization provides military families with a place to stay while veterans receive medical care at a nearby hospital.

On Monday afternoon, Southington School Superintendent Joseph V. Erardi gave $4,000, the proceeds of the fundraising effort, to Rachel Wache of the town’s American Legion Women’s Auxiliary.

“I’m overwhelmed,” Wache said. “This is absolutely wonderful. This all started with Dr. Erardi’s initiative to try and get all of our kids in the Southington school system onboard with our veterans and our troops.”

Wache said the money will go to the first Fisher House ever built in Connecticut. The house will be able to accommodate up to 20 families and will be built on the grounds of the West Haven VA. The price of the home is estimated to be $6 million, said Wache, with 50 percent of costs covered by the national branch of the Fisher House Foundation. Friends of Fisher House Connecticut will cover the rest of the bill, which is expected to be about $3 million.

Erardi also announced Monday that an ongoing partnership with local veterans will be in place throughout the 2012-13 school year to support the Connecticut Fisher House. The Southington school district is implementing an initiative next year concentrating on civic responsibility.

“This will be a focal point for me for the 2012-13 school year,” Erardi said.

Still in the planning phase, the Connecticut Fisher House is scheduled to be built in the summer of 2013.

Joyce McAloon, a fifth-grade teacher at Flanders School, partnered with Wache and veteran Steve Pintarich in the wristband fundraising program held last week.

“Besides the selling of bracelets, we tried to educate kids to learn about Armed Forces Day (May 19),” McAloon said. “A lot of students bought [the bracelets] on Monday and were wearing them all week. Then we asked them to wear the bracelets all day on Saturday.”

In the Board of Education conference room Monday were poems and stories written by students, who on Friday observed the holiday by learning about the Fisher House Foundation.

“We had a great time learning about the Fisher House as well as being educated about veterans and Armed Forces Day,” McAloon said.

Erardi said the wristband initiative was just a kickoff project, the first of many in the coming school year aimed at increasing students civic awareness.

One initiative is a veterans speakers bureau that will be available to all classes next year.

“I’ve never been as happy as I am right now to be a veteran,” said Len Marcheselle, who was present on Monday while Wache accepted the money raised by the Southington school district. Marcheselle is aiding in the civic responsibility initiative in the town.

“This is the first time someone has done something for veterans and weren’t being paid for it,” he said. “[The students] got nothing but a big thank you and a hug. I want to thank you, Dr. Erardi, and the whole school system for what you’re doing for the veterans here in Southington."