With gratitude and admiration, Lacordaire wishes a very happy Veterans Day to all who serve and have served our country. Today, we were grateful to welcome four members of the United States Marine Corps to campus: Staff Sergeant Naveen Gill, Sergeant Dominic Steffan, Corporal James Ginocchio, and Lance Corporal Diego Henao, all preparing for deployment. U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Derek Hernandez, parent of Savanna in 2nd grade, also joined us for the visit.

 

Our guests spoke with Middle and Upper School students about their military training, responsibilities, and experiences, followed by a Q&A. One particularly strong message came from a Marine who emphasized the importance of being a good person and always seeing others as people, even those that we might be in conflict with. Students also learned about the physical demands of military service through a demonstration of the weight of the weapons Marines train with and a friendly push-up contest. Afterward, the Marines visited classrooms throughout the Carriage House, where our PK–4th grade students welcomed them with patriotic songs, shared their Veterans Day artwork, and offered salutes in their honor.

 

We are grateful every day for the brave men and women who serve in our armed forces. Their dedication and sacrifice help preserve the freedoms we cherish and allow us to learn and grow in a safe and loving community. May God bless all our veterans and their families, and watch over all those currently serving and deployed around the world.