Search
-
November 9, 2018VASJ President Bill Cervenik ’72 welcomed all in attendance to VASJ’s 2018 Veterans Day Assembly.
“I’m honored to be speaking with you today on such an important occasion,” Cervenik said. “We’re here today to honor our service members and to remember the sacrifices they have made and the courage it takes to defend honor, duty, and country.”
Student Council President Harrison McCreight ’19 led all in attendance in the Pledge of Allegiance before Mr. Jim Tobin recognized all military members past and present.
Tobin identified the veterans who were in attendance and made special mention of the recent VASJ alumni who are currently serving in the military.
“Take a moment to think about Veterans and their families, and what they have sacrificed in their lives to give us freedom,” Tobin said.
Memorial candles, representing the various wars and conflicts in which our veterans have served, were lit by our student government leaders.
Senior Class President Janessa White recited the Remembrance Prayer.
Let us commemorate and commend to the loving mercy of our heavenly Father, the Shepherd of sorrows, the giver of life everlasting, all those who died in the wars and conflicts for the cause of freedom, and all of those who in the past year have been called to our heavenly Father. They shall not grow old, as we who are left grow old. Age shall not weary them, not the years condemn. At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we shall remember them.
LTC Brian A. Ferguson served as the keynote speaker. Ferguson has spent the last 19 ½ years as active duty in the military and has deployed overseas three times.
“Tradition is about honoring and remembering,” Ferguson said. “I jumped at the opportunity to come here today and speak about this tradition.”
For Ferguson, serving in the military is a family tradition that dates back several generations, including his grandfather and his grandfather’s grandfather.
You could hear a pin drop, and a few sniffles from those who were overcome with emotion, during the playing of Taps.
VASJ President Cervenik asked for a show of hands from anyone who has family who has or is currently serving in the military. A majority of hands went up.
“Call them this weekend,” he said. “Send them a note. Tell them, ‘thank you.’ And if you see a Veteran this weekend, go up to them and tell them ‘thank you,’ too.”
At the end of the assembly, VASJ Principal David Csank asked all students, faculty, and staff, to exit the gym in silence as a way to show respect and honor to those who have served.
Many students stopped to shake the hands of the veterans who were sitting in the first row of the gym and quietly thanked them for their service.
