Veterans’ Day Remarks
Kennedy Catholic High School – 8th November, 2017
Good morning! What a wonderful morning to celebrate our national pride and patriotism and to honor our distinguished veterans. I was able to peep in on bits and pieces of today’s events in between meetings that had been arranged for me, and was inspired by the festivities.
To our visitors and distinguished guests and honorees today, let me introduce myself. My name in Fr. Jason Glover, the President of the Kennedy Catholic Family of Schools. It is our unique honor and privilege to welcome our veterans and service members into our beloved school and to express in a very hallowed way our appreciation for your service and sacrifice.
It is highly unusual for us, as a school system, to set aside our time honored custom and tradition of dressing up for our weekly celebration of the Mass and permit a dress down day today. Allow the highly unusual nature of this jeans day exception to underscore our gratitude for your service.
Kennedy Catholic has a long and proud history of supporting our military personnel and veterans, not only in word, but through action and commitment. Today is but one example, the greatest action we can offer: to pray for your veterans and service men and women. Earlier this morning, one of our students formally signed her commitment with the United States Air Force. Before mass began, several students swore to the military oath, administered by none other than Mr. Shaffer, a faculty member here at KCFS. Mr. Shaffer teaches alongside his colleague, Mr. McMahon, also a service member. We, of course, follow the daily leadership of our Headmaster, Mr. Lyon, U.S. Marine Corp, retired. Our support is more than words, but the concrete actions and commitments such as these.
This is but a snapshot of Kennedy student and faculty commitment to military service today. But, this commitment extends back in Kennedy’s history for decades, with an as yet unknown number of graduates who have served our great nation. It is my hope to one day to raise the funds necessary to research, design, and construct a memorial – perhaps in our chapel, or fittingly around our flag pole – that properly honors graduates who have served in the military, and to memorialize Kennedy graduates who have paid the ultimate price for our cherished freedoms.
Once again, to our honored guest: An entire nation stands owes you a debt that cannot be repaid. On behalf of the Kennedy Catholic Family of Schools, accept our collective gratitude for your service, and that of your fellow comrades who could not be with us today.