001Are you using this for the PowerPoint? >> I don't know. I don't know. >> Okay. Cuz before it's there and you can't see now. Who's >> I hope so. Heat. Heat. She got her arm. Okay. Yeah. Heat. That's another Heat. Don't stop. all the way. Yeah. Heat. Heat. Heat. students, staff, guests, and most importantly, our honorable veterans who are here today. Good morning. My name is Gabrielle Hernandez and I serve as your student council president. I'm honored to welcome everyone here today to the 2025 Veterans Day celebration. Today, we come together to honor the brave men and women who have served or are still serving our country. But beyond honoring their service, we also come together to recognize something that their service represents, unity. Veterans Day reminds us that despite our differences, where we come
002from, what we believe, or how we live, we united under on one flag and one purpose, freedom. Our veterans are living examples of what it means to stand together for something greater than ourselves. To start our program, I want to reflect on the true meaning of unity. What it means to come together as one. Unity is not about everything being the same. It's about standing side by side even when we are different. It's about respect, teamwork, and the shared belief that we are stronger together than apart. When our veterans served, they came from different backgrounds, different communities, and different walks of life. Yet, they stood as one, united by their love for our country and their commitment to protect it. That unity is what kept has kept our nation strong for both peace and conflict.
003Unity is not always easy. It takes courage to listen, to understand, and to work together, especially when we don't agree. But our veterans show us that unity is worth the effort. Because when people unite for a greater cause, they can ex achieve extraordinary things. Every veteran in this room has shown us the power of unity. How individuals who join together by purpose can protect freedom freedom, preserve peace, and inspire generations. At this time, I would like to ask all the veterans in the room to please stand. [applause] >> [applause] [applause] >> service unique and your dedication to our country. to remind us that we are one nation connected by gratitude, freedom, and hope. Please be seated. I want to leave everyone with a quote from Colin Powell. The essence of America lies not in one
004person, but in our unity, strengthened by those willing to serve and protect it. To our veterans, thank you for showing us what true unity looks like. You remind us that when we stand together, there is not there is nothing that we cannot overcome. You inspire all of us, especially the students here today, to build bridges, to support one another, and to seek unity in our school and our community. Thank you. [applause] [applause] We will have theation of the flags by the hand over sexual contacts under the direction of Please rise and remove your hats for the pledge of allegiance. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Next, student council vice
005president Taran Garandro will recite the presidential popation by the president of the United States of America. A proclamation. The story of America is written with the courage, honor, and dedicated service of our veterans. Through their sacrifice, the fires of freedoms burn brightly. Our republic secured and our way of life made possible. For 250 years, their unhealthy spirit have carried our nation throughout every trial, every triumph, ensuring that liberty endures for all time. This Veterans Day, we show our gratitude and recommmit their honor, their service, uphold their legacy, and give every veteran the loyalty, respect, and service, support they've earned, and so dearly deserve. You may sit upon those who are well during the midst of the The Continental Pro Act that the first national vet veterans entered law to care for wounded and disabled veterans.
006From that act of early force became a fundamental promise, a nation devoted to liberty owes it debt to those who secure freedom for our people. Yet for too many decades, politicians have failed to provide the benefits earned by the best among us leading to shameful outcomes on veteran healthcare, housing, and employment. Under my leadership, the federal government will no longer betray those heroes. During my first term, my administration achieved historic reforms through the Department of Veteran Affairs, VA, and expanded choice in healthcare and economic opportunity for our veterans. I signed into law banning medical administration to increase accountability, those who killed our veterans, and deliver faster, highquality care. Now, we are building off these successes by contributing to improve VA. We have opened 16 new veteran health clinics throughout our country, made it easier for
007veterans to pass on our benefits to survivors, and added DEI and transgender policies so we could use taxpayer dollars on programs that help veterans need. Just this year, we have already reduced the backlog of veterans waiting for VA benefits by more than 37% after rising 24% during the previous administration. We are just getting started. In May, I signed an executive order to build a national center for warrior independence, which will house up to 6,000 homeless veterans by 2028. I also signed into the law the one big beautiful bill making 2017 sol tax tax cuts permanent and ending taxes on social security for most seniors relieving some of the financial bur for veterans on fixed incomes. Through these reforms and actions we are renewing our nation's commitment to those who serve. Our nation remains great because
008of those who have served on our uniform and committed their lives to defending our families of freedom and American values. Today we extend the deepest gratitude to our soldiers, civil, sailors, marines, airmen, coast guardmen, and guardians for their sacrifice. We thank families who share the burden of their service. Under my leadership, our nation will always uphold the legacy of our veterans by keeping America strong, proud, and free. And as president, I will always have their backs. In respectful recognition of contributions our service members have made to advance a piece of freedom around the world, the Congress has provided that November 11th each year shall be set aside as legal holiday to honor our nation's veterans. Now therefore, I, Donald J. Trump, President of the United States, do hereby proclaim that November 11th, 2025 as Veterans
009Day. I encourage all Americans to reflect on the encouraging sacrifice of our veterans through public ceremonies and private thoughts of prayers of gratitude. I call upon federal, state, and local officials to display the flag of the United States and participate in patriotic activities and activities. In witness whereof, I hereby set my hands this 10th day of November in the year of our war 2025 and the independence of the United States of America, the 250th, Donald J. Trump. It is our honor to introduce Donald John, distinguished veteran who has served in our uh community and country with courage and dedication. He served in the United States Marine Corps from 2005 to 2009. He served in the tourism support of Operation Iraq Freedom. Please join me in welcoming John to share his reflections and experiences with us
010today. [applause] [applause] >> [cheering] >> So, what's going on everyone? Um, just want to say hi. My name is John. Um, and I hope that you guys are having a good day. Um, if you are, I'm sorry. You're going to have to listen, so that's um, if you're having a bad day, I'll be done speaking soon, so hopefully your day will start looking up. Um, Gabriella, you did uh, fantastic. Um, I'm basically going to support you. Our speeches were like missing anything. So, you said it way better than I do. Okay. So, um, I was asked to speak here today uh, by my little sister, Miss Pesha. You can clearly see who is the better looking sibling between us. So, I agreed to speak hoping that would give her some extra credit or something being
011as she went through life as the uglier sibling. Uh, but in all seriousness, I do want to thank everyone here uh for allowing me to speak. It is an honor and a privilege uh to have your attention for a few minutes. I promise it will only be a few minutes. Um, all right. So, I served in the US Marine Corps uh from 2005 2009. Yes, that's 20 years ago. 20 years ago, I know I am old. Um, in the Marines, I serve as an infantryman. For anyone who is unaware, uh, infantry is a ground unit at the front of the fight. Uh, infantry is tough, uh, but it can be a lot of fun. You learn a lot about yourself and what you can endure. You also get to play with uh machine guns and
012blow things up all day every day, which is the real reason anyone joins the just um during my service in the Marines, I did two deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2006, 2007, and 2008. Um I am proud of my service and it gave me a perspective of life I carry with me to this day. a perspective many do not get the honor and sometimes burden of care. Uh, currently I'm a licensed clinical social worker and I work for the VA. My roles have included psychotherapy, uh, which is where we, uh, talk about our feelings. I know it's gross, but it's necessary. Uh, another role I've recently had was working with homeless and lowincome veterans to help maintain their housing stability and mitigate substance abuse and mental health issues. Uh I currently am
013changing roles and will work in a small clinic to address needs of veterans as they come up in various aspects of their lives. I enjoy working with the VA and working with fellow veterans. It is a connection that is hard to describe. When you run into another person who happens to be a veteran, there is an unspoken respect and bond for one another because you were both willing to do what others weren't. And because of this, there is a respect and unspoken lifelong duty to help one another if able. The bond led me towards my career and it's kind of what I want to talk to you a little bit about today. Um, so why are we here today? Because it's Veterans Day. Uh, we won't go into the history of Veterans Day uh here
014today. Uh, it is what it is. Uh, we can talk about what a veteran is briefly. Um now there are agency definitions of what a veteran is. Often the accepted definition is someone who served in the military in varying degrees um and was discharged with anything but a dishonorable discharge. Now there are disagreements to these definitions to exclude character of discharge meaning that just because you got a dishonorable discharge then it doesn't mean that your service didn't exist. But that's neither here nor here there. And I don't really want to get in to that with you either today. What I'd like to talk about a little bit is who is a veteran. Um I'm going to ask briefly if everyone who stood earlier could just raise their hands uh if you were a veteran at
015all. Um anyone who served in the military at all and just raise their hands for me. Yep. Yep. Mark. And I just kind of want everyone to briefly look around and take a look at the hands here. Okay. Thank you. You guys can go around. The people you saw with their hands up are some of your family members, some of your friends parents, the old man like me down the street, the cashier at the gas station, the plumber fixing your sink. All of these people are examples of who a veteran is. Veterans are your community. They are your people. Veterans come in all shapes and sizes, colors, backgrounds, political ideas, etc. There is and can be [clears throat] no onesizefits-all approach to define a veteran because there is no oneizefits-all approach to describe the people
016of the United States. And there is something powerful and beautiful and awesome about them. As a clinician in the VA, I see all walks of life come across my work. And this is because the military is a subset or small sample of us as a country. I love this. I won't say it's the best of the best because there are great people who don't serve in the military. But what I will say what is great about the diversity of veterans is what we represent which is unity. Unity in the name of service and a greater good and all veterans were willing to give a lot for a period of their lives in duty of service and a greater good. When you think of who a veteran is, you may uh have varying degrees of thoughts
017or opinions. You may think of a person with chronic mental or physical health issues. Or maybe you think of someone overly obnoxious, patriotic person. Perhaps you think of an older person or a wildly handsome tattoo bearded guy like myself. Perhaps you think of a war hero or a very bridg person. Whoever it is you think of, you are probably right because every single one of these people have served. But it doesn't mean that represents everyone who does serve. Often times there are more veterans in our lives than we are even aware of. Some of you might know right now you are going to be serving and already signing papers. Some of you might be waiting for after school. Some of you may be saying hell to the no while serving in the military. One way
018or another, some of you will be in the military as your life leads you that way for whatever reason. It will be one of the greatest challenges of your life, both good and bad, for varying reasons. However, all of you who serve will one day be a veteran. You will be my brother or sister in arms and will be part of that unity for the greater good. just as my veteran and uh veteran brothers and sisters are here today. So to close off this ramble because I'm starting to bore myself honestly. So it has a kind of feel. Um if you were having uh but so basically in closing um I just want to circle back to who is a veteran? Um to answer that question again just look around. Veterans are your community. Uh
019they continue to serve just as they did when their country called. Thank you all so much for your time. Uh it was an honor to be here. And as a Veteran Day gift and a personal birthday gift to me, I requested that you all get out early today for a half day and the principal agreed. No, I'm just kidding. I'm just kidding, guys. [applause] [cheering] >> [applause] >> Next, we will enjoy the patriotic sounds of the band and choir performing together the armed forces the pride of America. You're funny. [music] >> [music] [music] >> Heat up [music] [singing] here. [music] Heat >> [music] [music] >> up [music] here. [music] >> [music] >> Heat. [music] Heat. [music] >> [music] [music] >> away. My boys [music] [singing] [music] Heat. [music] [music] Heat. [music] >> [music] [music] >>
020Heat up here. [music] Heat. Heat. [music] >> [music] [singing] [music] >> Heat. Heat. >> [music] [music] >> Please rise. [music] >> [music] >> Heat. [music] Heat. [music] Heat. [music] Heat. [music] Heat. Heat. [music] Heat. [music] [music] Heat. [music] Oh, [music] heat, heat. [cheering] >> [applause] >> Thank you to our band and choir for your amazing performance. We will now have the presentation of the battlefield cross read by student council treasurer Taylor. Soldiers cross or battlefield scolders cross or battlefield cross has its origin states of the civil war and that when soldiers were hastily buried between battles the rife was stabbed the rifle was stabbed into the ground to mark their final resting place. Anything which identified the fallen was placed on the rifle so others would know who eternally massacre. Today service members on the
021battlefield often are unable to attend the funerals of their fallen brothers and sisters in arms. So the battlefield cross or soldiers drops is placed in honor of those who have perished as a way to pay their last respects. The meaning of the items which comprise the soldier's cross. The rifle. The rifle ba effects is the most important tool to a United States by a man or woman. It is the core to their livelihood and key to their survival. It is thrust into the ground signifying that the one being remembered died in battle fighting to the end. It also signifies that the battle is over when the rival is left as well. The boots. The boots carry a service member through the fight for our freedom. They are the first and most important means of transportation.
022The boots are placed at the base of the rifle rifle. They are worn and dirty, reminding us of that final march to that last battle. Dog tags. Dog tags are worn by each service member. They have imprinted into them all the important identifying information regarding that individual. The dog tags are hung from the rifle so that the name of the fallen will be remembered and not forgotten. Helmet. The helmet is an important piece of protection on the battlefield. Some believe that the hat or helmet of the individual represents what that person stood for. And so the helmet is placed on the top of the rifle signifying that the battle is over and that a great sacrifice has been made. It will never be won again. The Soldier's Cross or Battlefield Cross stands in tribute and
023memory as we honor, we remember, and never forget. Next, we're citing her own original poem, Addison's Party. [applause] Today is a day we honor all. To all the ones who answered that call. Under all the stars and stripes, there you were day and night. Without you, our lives would lack. Thank you for always having our back. Through trials faced and battles shown. With courage beyond all measures known. Soldiers young and soldiers old, you fought for our freedom, brave and bold. So you loved our country also true. Bathed in red, white, and blue. Extreme bravery marched your way. Something no one could take away. You lifted our hopes and kept us free. You're all a sign of liberty. Strength and determination kept you going, even when it wasn't showing. Through trials, phase, and dangerous grown, there
024you stand, but not alone. Thank you. Next, Leila Nester will read the 11th hour. >> [applause] [applause] >> The 11th hour, lest we forget. At the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, we stand for 2 minutes of silence to honor our fallen our daughters and sons. They went off to war to places unknown. They went off to war. They went. They knew not what they would face. They knew not if they would return. But they went bravely to keep our home safe. Please bow your head for two minutes. For those men and women so brave. It is only 2 minutes for them on this day. But it is their whole lives for us they gave. There it goes. >> [snorts] >> Look at me. Hey Thank you. Now we will have
025the presentation of America's White Table read by Isabella Starky and set by Juliana Wonado, Bria Dodie, Cory Hazley, and myself. [snorts] The table honors the men and women who served in America's armed forces. We cover a small table with a white cloth to honor a soldier's dear heart when he answers his country's call to duty. We place a lemon slice and grains of salt on a plate to show a captive solders's bitter fate and tears of families waiting for loved ones to We push an empty chair to the table for the missing soldiers who are not here. We lay a black napkin for the sorrow of captivity and turn over a glass for a meal that won't be eaten. We place a white candle for peace. And finally, a red rose in a vase tied
026with a red ribbon for the hope that all are missing will return someday. You are not forgotten so long as there is one left in whom your memory remains. Next, we are proud to share our video tribute completed by Alexis Sky. A heartfelt thank you to all the Hanover families who submitted photos allowing us to honor our veterans together. >> [applause] >> Yes. [applause] Heat. [applause] Heat. [applause] Woo! [applause] [applause] Heat! [applause] Heat. [applause] Heat. [applause] Heat. [applause] Heat. [snorts] [applause] >> [applause] >> Heat. [applause] [applause] Heat. Heat. [applause] Heat. >> [applause] [applause] >> Heat. [applause] Heat. Heat. [applause] Heat. [applause] >> [applause] [applause] >> Woo! [applause] Woo! [applause] Woo! [applause] [applause] Woo! Heat. [cheering] [applause] Heat. [applause] >> [applause] >> Woo! [applause] Heat! [applause] [applause] Heat. [cheering] [applause] Heat. [cheering] [applause] Heat. [applause] [cheering]
027Heat. [applause] Heat. [applause] Heat. [applause] >> [applause] [applause] >> The server of taps. The 24 note melancholy bugal call known as taps is thought to be a revision of the French bugal signal called tetto that notified soldiers to seize the evening's drinkings and return to their garrisons. It was signed an hour before the final bugle call to end the day by extinguishing fires and lights. The last five measures of the tattoo resemble taps. The word taps is an alliteration of the obsolete taptoe derived from the Dutch taptoe. Tapto is the command taptoe to shut toe to the tap of a keg. The revision that gave us present day taps was made during America's Civil War by Union General Daniel Adams Butterfield. Heading a brigade camped at Harrison's Landing, Virginia near Richmond. Up to that time,
028the US Army's infantry call to end the day was the French final call. La extinction day foe. General Butterfield decided the lights out music was too formal to signal the day's act. One day in July 1862, he recalled the tattoo music and hummed a version of it to an aid who wrote it down in music. Butterfield then asked the brigade bugler Oliver W. Norton to play the notes and after listening, lengthened and shortened them while keeping them the same original melody. He ordered Norton to play his new call at the end of each day. thereafter instead of the regulation call. The music was heard and appreciated by other brigades who asked for copies and adopted this bugle call. It was even adopted by Confederate bugles. This music was made the official army bugle call after
029the war, but not given the name taps until 1874. The first time taps was played at the military funeral may also have been in Virginia soon after Butterfield composed it. Union Captain John Tidbball, head of artillery battery, ordered it played for the burial of a caner killed in action. Not wanting to reveal the battery's position in the woods to the enemy nearby. Dipball substituted taps for the traditional three rifle volleys fired over the grave. Taps was played at the funeral of Confederate General Stonewall Jackson 10 months after it was composed. Army Infantry Regulations by 1891 required taps to be played on military funeral ceremonies. Taps now is played by the military at burial and memorial services to accompany the lowering of the flag and to signal the lights out command at day's end. Taps will
030now be played by Braden Deadcloud and Iris Draabowski. [applause] Heat. Heat. [music] >> [music] [music] >> Thank you. >> [applause] [applause] >> Thank you. Concluding our program will be President Gabriel Hernandez. On behalf of our student body, we want to sincerely thank all of our veterans for attending our program today. This year, Leila Hester designed our commemorative t-shirts. These shirts were provided free to our veterans and through sales to our student body and staff, our student council will be donating $500 to the American Legion Post 26 in Cedar Lake. [applause] >> [applause] >> We thank everyone who purchased a shirt in support of this meaningful cause. Please give a warm welcome to Veterans and Post 261 to accept our check on behalf of student council. [applause] >> [applause] >> We're coming. [applause] >> [applause] [applause]
031>> In closing, we would like to extend our sincere gratitude to John Hoyak for sharing his time, experience, and words of inspiration with us today. Your service and perspective are deeply appreciated and your message will be remembered by all in attendance. [applause] Also want to thank Michelle Mlantis for creating our medical cross that we have on display. [applause] >> [applause] >> Lastly, we would like to further welcome our veterans who join us for lunch afterward in the hospitality. [applause] Once again, [applause] >> [applause]