By Clare Driscoll, ’19
On Nov. 14, students spent part of the day in an assembly honoring the men and women who served or are serving in the U.S. military.
This Veterans Day celebration, put on by the junior class, featured 15 men from different branches of the U.S. Armed Forces.
The program began with the Star Spangled Banner played by the symphony orchestra and was followed by a performance of all of the branches of the military’s anthems by the third-period string orchestra.
After saying the Pledge of Allegiance, each of the veterans told the student body what Veterans Day meant to them. For counselor Allen Banks, a veteran, this day was not just “one day” to remember veterans, but to remind us that America should be honoring its veterans year round.
“We live in a society where kids your age don’t remember America in a time of peace. Back in 1991, when they began troop buildups [for the Gulf War], you couldn’t walk down the street without seeing a ‘Support our Troops’ sign, but you just don’t see that spirit anymore,” Banks said. “For me, Veterans Day isn’t just one day to thank veterans, but it is a reminder that we should be doing this year round because there are so many freedoms that we take for granted.”
After the words and stories shared from the veterans on stage, taps was played to commemorate those who gave their lives in the service of our country.