Over the years, York has hosted a Veterans Day assembly in order to educate the student body and honor the veterans who fought for our country. On Nov. 11, the annual event was held in the Campbell Gym, featuring guest speakers and moments of remembrance for local veterans.
Veterans Day is a federal holiday that honors veterans and their families. It is a time to remember those who sacrificed their lives for our freedom, and listen to the stories of those who fought for our country. The annual assembly at York hopes to honor veterans in our community and encourage students to reflect on the military work that has upheld our nation. Much effort goes into making sure the event recognizes veterans in the most impactful way possible.
“Mr. Moran, Mr. Riskus, and I meet in the fall, right when school starts,” Drew McGuire, Assistant Principal of Student Experience, said. “We start talking about what speakers we bring in. We have a rotated list of individuals that we reach out to every year, because we want to make sure that we keep it fresh for all of our students.”
The guest speaker plays a key role in the event, as they are tasked with sharing their first hand experiences and the stories of their fallen comrades. This year’s speaker was Chuck Meyers, a Vietnam veteran who managed intelligence in the Special Tactical Zone (24th STZ) and the Combat Intelligence Battalion (Provisional). In his speech, he shared the stories of military personnel who sacrificed their lives for our country.
“Veterans day is about memories, as is memorial day,” Meyers said. “I can imagine who I served with, I can see their pictures in my mind’s eye. I remember Bob Gillespie because I remember what he looks like.”
Meyers’ close comrade, Robert J Gillespie Jr. was a victim of a landmine casualty that occurred in the middle of the night. Meyers’ first hand recollection is a testament to the importance of sharing stories. As time goes on, more and more of these testimonials are lost to history. This is why Veterans Day focuses on not just recognizing the names of fallen soldiers, but the stories of their sacrifice.
“Every war we’ve fought in is a part of American history,” Meyers said. “As people are forgetting World War II all the way back to the revolution, it’s important to learn from that history and move forward as a country.”
One faction of the school community that embraces the notion of learning from history is the military history club. The group focuses on honoring and remembering military personnel year round. Every year, the club selects one member to speak at the Veterans Day assembly. This year Francesco Bifero, senior, was chosen to represent the student body in thanking veterans for all they have done.
“I wanted to make [the veterans] feel noticed and appreciated,” Bifero said. “I think they did leave the assembly feeling that way. It was all good intentions. I just want them to be recognized as much as they can be.”
Bifero and the military history club recognize that there is a lot to be learned from veterans. This is why bringing their stories to York is so important, teaching students about experiences that go beyond the confines of the Elmhurst community.
“I want students to understand a sense of service,” McGuire said. “Understand that there are individuals in our country who gave their life, their time and their commitment for something greater than themselves. We may live in a very small bubble, but there is much more out there in the world. I hope they can get a sense of that from our veterans’ stories.”
The assembly aims to pass on stories of bravery and educate the school community on the significance of military service. However, the relative normalcy of these heroes is another key take away. Recognizing that military service isn’t exclusive to people with a profound set of traits, rather, it is a commitment that ordinary people can make to their country.
“They were regular people like you and me, who decided that for a career they wanted to join the military,” Bifero said. “Alot of them were motivated by different reasons. I think the biggest misconception is that they are not like you and me. They are, but they have that something more. They are extra-ordinary and they are extraordinary.”
Veterans day is a day for non-military citizens to learn from veterans, but it is also a day for veterans to feel seen, heard, and honored.
“I hope this assembly continues from year to year,” Meyers said. “Not only is it important for students to hear the stories from veterans, I think it’s important for veterans to see several thousand kids in one room, just listening. The act of listening leads to reflection, and then hopefully leads to some form of action.”
