Freedom is something too many Americans take for granted, but for military families there is a much greater cost. For many  military servicemen, spending years away from their families, risking their lives, and some even giving their lives for our country is the ultimate prices to pay, so veterans deserve to be honored. That is why we have Veterans Day. According to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, “For 98 years Americans have remembered those who served our country in uniform on 11 November – first as Armistice Day, and then, since 1954 as Veterans Day.” Today in the United States, there are 21 million veterans according to history.com.  Because Veterans Day is so important, The Benjamin School takes time to honor these heroes each year.

Unlike other schools,The Benjamin School is in session on Veterans Day and devotes a part of the school day to honor and thank the men and women of our military by holding a lower/middle school assembly. The ceremony is held on Kennerly Field and includes student musical performances and a guest speaker. This year, TBS invited Mr. Todd Ruedisili, a former TBS parent and current middle school tennis coach who served as a soldier in the United States Army.  

Ruedisili spoke about his experience in the army and talked about being grateful for the service men and women who devote their lives to the United States. During the ceremony, fourth-grade students read their original Veterans Day poems aloud to the school and the eight veterans who were present. The fifth grade also stood and recited the poem “In Flanders Fields” by Canadian Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae which was written during WWI as a tribute to those who died in the conflict.

In addition, The Middle School Choir, along with seventh graders Kaya Kutner and Angelina Calvo-Ayers, sang various songs which honored veterans, such as “Soldier’s Light,” “Stars and Stripes Forever,” and “American Heritage March.” The Middle School Performance Ensemble and Honor Band also played a series of patriotic songs, including John Philip Sousa’s “Stars and Stripes Forever,”  “Armed Forces Salute,” and “American Heritage March” by John Edmondson.

Freedom is something that should not be taken for granted, and Veterans Day is a reminder of that. “I organize the ceremony every year out of deep

respect for the men and woman in the armed services,” said History Department Chair Mr. Marshall Mullinix, who has spearheaded the ceremony on Kennerly Field for 13 years. Mr. Mullinix has enjoyed organizing TBS’ celebration of veterans because he promised his father, who was a marine, that he would honor veterans every year, and he has been fulfilling his promise ever since.

“We feel it is an important civic responsibility to thank our veterans for their service, remembering that the freedoms we enjoy were given to us through their sacrifice,” said Head of Middle School Mr. Charles Hagy.

Students also understand the significance of Veterans Day and how important it is to honor our veterans.

“Veterans Day is important because it honors those who serve and protect our country,” said seventh grader Antonio Gambino. “Veterans Day is a day to remember and honor brave American men and women that have served and sacrificed their lives for us and our country,” added sixth grader Hannah Beam.  
The reason United States’ citizens have the basic right of freedom is because there are men and women in all five branches of the military (Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard) willing to sacrifice their lives to protect Americans whom they have never met.