Honoring Veterans

Each year I share a few words with students and staff about Veteran’s Day. This year I did not have the opportunity, so I am going to share them here with our entire community. As you may have read in previous posts, I value the daily moment of silence. I hope you will take at least a moment today to silently honor our veterans, those who work in our school, and those who live in our community and throughout the world. These are the words I share each year:

Good morning students and staff.

Every morning we recite the Pledge of Allegiance in school as a symbol of our dedication to the values that serve as the foundation of our country, and of our appreciation for the rights and freedoms those values protect. At this time, as we approach the Veteran’s Day holiday, take a few moments to truly reflect on what those values are, and what they mean to us as citizens of the United States. Take the time also to think about all of those who have dedicated themselves, often at the cost of their own lives, to protecting those values through service in the United States military. On Veteran’s Day we recognize those who, through their military service,

[if !supportLists] · have fought to defend and protect the United States at home and abroad

[if !supportLists] · have worked to ensure our interests were served overseas

[if !supportLists] · have toiled to rebuild America in the wake of natural and manmade disasters

[if !supportLists] · have committed to providing humanitarian aid and protection to those in need throughout the world

[if !supportLists] · have advanced the cause of democracy where freedom does not exist

[if !supportLists] · have undertaken diplomacy with allies and enemies alike

[if !supportLists] · have trained, advised, and empowered foreign nations to protect their own freedoms

[if !supportLists] · and have represented the United States by embodying the best of what it means to be American.

Everyone here knows someone who has served in the military, whether it be a parent, sibling, extended family member, friend, or acquaintance. Each day, as we prepare ourselves to undertake the business of education, we share our day with veterans representing several branches of the United States military, including:

[if !supportLists] · Dr. Joey Phillips, veteran of the Navy

[if !supportLists] · Mr. Phil McGinnis, veteran of the Navy

[if !supportLists] · Mr. Lee Hart, veteran of the Navy

[if !supportLists] · Ms. Elinor Wynter, veteran of the Air Force

[if !supportLists] · Mr. Allen Brewer, veteran of the Navy

[if !supportLists] · Mr. Mark Foldy, veteran of the Navy

[if !supportLists] · Mr. Peter Ayala, veteran of the Navy

[if !supportLists] · Mr. Manny Hernandez, veteran of the Army

[if !supportLists] · Mr. Richard Leonard, veteran of the Navy

[if !supportLists] · Mr. Howard Simmons, veteran of the Navy

It is for them, and for all of our military personnel, past and present, that we observe the moment of silence on Veteran’s Day.