001foreign thank you foreign thank you [Music] foreign [Music] foreign [Music] foreign [Music] foreign [Music] foreign [Music] foreign [Music] foreign [Music] foreign [Music] foreign [Music] foreign [Music] thank you [Music] foreign [Music] foreign [Music] foreign [Music] foreign [Music] foreign [Music] no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no [Music] no foreign [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] foreign [Music] [Applause] [Music] thank you [Music] thank you [Music] foreign [Music] [Applause] thank you [Music] foreign [Music] foreign [Music] foreign [Music] dad my dad has this do I like tap on it good morning veterans and distinguished guests members of the Cheshire Community fellow students and Chester High School staff Welcome to our annual Veterans Day assembly my name is Riley
002baldoni and my name is Grace Henke we are members of Brave which stands for bringing remembrance to All Veterans everywhere our club mission is to recognize and appreciate every man woman and brave soul that has served our country honorably as we begin I would like to ask all guests to silence their electronic devices today it is our great honor to be here with all of you throughout this nation's history America's soldiers Sailors air men and air women Marines and members of the Coast Guard have bravely answered the call to defend our freedom and sacrifice so greatly to help ensure that our Republic would endure today we honor the 650 000 American Service members who died in battle today we honor 1.4 million who were wounded today we honor the more than 25 million veterans that
003currently live in the U.S to all the veterans and active military personnel in attendance this morning we are so pleased that you could join us to begin this morning we will recite the Pledge of Allegiance please stand for a moment of silence I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States please be seated today is a day of remembrance and gratitude it takes a lot of bravery and sacrifice to do what you have done for our country from the entire CHS Community thank you we hope you enjoy the program now please welcome the members of the CHS honors choir who perform our national anthem foreign [Applause] [Music] [Applause] through the night [Music] [Applause] foreign and I will be your Master of Ceremonies this morning with this privilege it is my pleasure to Welcome to
004the podium CHS principal Dr Gad [Music] [Applause] okay good morning especially and Welcome to our veterans with us today we are so honored to have you with us today as you've heard we recognize and honor your selfless service our Veterans Day Tradition at CHS is a cherished part of our school culture and as a school we value service not only to our school but to our community today we take this opportunity to thank you our honored guests and recognize your contributions to our nation our state and to our town your role models of Bravery hard work and extraordinary grit and sacrifice and you demonstrated that to protect our very freedom we hope that we all can in some small way show even a fraction of your courage and sense of responsibility to and for others
005in our daily lives thank you for being such a powerful example it's so important to preserve our Traditions as we recognize Veterans Day or as it was originally called Armistice Day and you'll hear more about the history of Veterans Day in a moment and before we move forward I do just want to say again we thank you just for this privilege of being able to sit together and recognize all of the things that you've done in the example that you set and our students for our brave club that acronym bringing remembrance to All Veterans everywhere is really an example of maintaining that tradition and traditions are so important for all of us our students have thoughtfully organized today's program so I thank our brave Club I also thank our football team and their coach Don
006drust for making our veterans feel so incredibly welcome this morning I thank our food service for making this morning's breakfast lovely and I also would like to thank Mr Tim Galvin without whom this event would not have been possible so it is now my privilege and pleasure to thank and welcome Dr Jeffrey Solon our superintendent we thank him for his leadership and stalwart's support of Cheshire high school and his dedication to the Cheshire Community thank you [Applause] thank you Dr Gad good morning everyone come on good morning everyone this is this is a day that is filled with reverence but also incredible enthusiasm for it's an opportunity for us to connect with the veterans in our community so you know when I drop a good morning it's okay to say good morning but um anyway
007thank you to all of our servicemen and women in attendance here today I also want to thank all of the families of those who serve as they bear the anxiety of knowing that their loved one is In Harm's Way in their service to our country Veterans Day was instituted originally as Armistice Day by President Wilson in 1919 to be recognized on the 11th Hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in the aftermath of the war to end all wars World War one was given this moniker because of the evolution of heinous tactics involved it was the first war to feature things like modern chemical warfare and weapons like flamethrowers the original bill passed through the United States Congress in 1926 which read in part therefore be it resolved by the Senate the House
008of Representatives concurring that the president of the United States is requested to issue a proclamation calling upon the officials to display the flag of the United States on all government buildings on November 11 and inviting the people of the United States to observe the day in schools and churches or other suitable places with appropriate ceremonies of friendly relations with all other peoples in the aftermath of World War II President Eisenhower initiated the shift to recognize widespread of observance of this anniversary with all veterans all veterans organizations and the entire citizenry joining hands in a common purpose today at Cheshire High School we're proud to recognize and honor our veterans in schools as America originally intended it is an opportunity to both acknowledge those who served and simultaneously educate our next Generation about this power of
009sacrifice and service to our country on behalf of everyone in the Cheshire Public Schools I thank all of our veterans for their service and I wish everyone a peaceful Veterans Day thank you [Applause] thank you Dr Gad and Dr Solon I would now like to introduce Andrew Elliott a member of Brave who will share with you all how the observance of Veterans Day came to be [Applause] good morning everyone and thank you for joining us on this very special day Veterans Day is a time to honor all men and women who served in the military and put their lives on the line for our freedom yet you may not know how it all started this morning I would like to share the history behind this holiday and why we celebrate Veterans Day at this time
010of year as referenced by Dr Solon originally this holiday began as Armistice Day which was established to commemorate the truths that brought a conclusion to the Great War or World War one as it became known November 11th was chosen because the Armistice was signed on the 11th Hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918. so one year later on November 11 1919 Armistice Day became a national holiday to honor all World War One Veterans for their service after World War II in the Korean War it became necessary to expand the recognition to include all men and women who served in our military Armistice Day was then officially changed to Veterans Day on June 1st 1954. finally I would also like to briefly mention the difference between Veterans Day and Memorial Day Memorial
011Day honors service members who died in the service to their country or as a result of their injuries incurred during battle Veterans Day is not only a day to honor deceased veterans but also to thank and honor living veterans who served in the military during wartime or peacetime please take some tide today to thank a veteran for their service and share with them why you appreciate their personal sacrifice thank you [Applause] thank you Andrew it is now our pleasure to share with you all a video message from the members of Brave entitled what Brave means to me foreign to me because both of my grandparents and my dad served in the military I think it's important to honor our veterans for the sacrifices they make for our country bravery is the reason we're able to
012make this video here today without the veterans sacrifice none of this would be possible so it's essential to honor them I joined Brave after reading the names of the Fallen at the traveling Vietnam Wall back when it came here to Cheshire it reminded me of the sacrifices that all veterans made and how we must honor their legacy in valuable ways Brave club's purpose is to acknowledge those who sacrificed their lives every day for our country to Me Brave means recognizing and appreciating Veterans for all they do for our country I joined free because it honors those who have served our country and gives them the recognition they deserve I join brave because I think it's important to honor and respect our veterans because they once served and protected our country Me Brave means giving veterans
013the recognition they deserve to me brief is a way to honor our veterans from everywhere with my friends way too remember an honor honor to those who served our country I joined brave because my grandpa is a veteran in supporting the Veterans for all the sacrifices they've made is very important to me Brave Club means remembering veterans who serve for this country I joined Brave to show my love and spread support throughout my community for the veterans who sacrificed their life for us I joined Brave to honor and respect the people that have served for this country uh Brave is important because it gives back for all the sacrifices it's a better information I joined Brave to honor and respect and also give back to those who have served our country so it means truly
014caring for those who risk their lives for us and honoring them for the service they have provided Brave is important to me because my dad and my grandpa were both in the military so I felt this is a good way to give back I joined Brave as a way to honor my poppy and all those who served before him with him and after him I joined Brave to help my community and understand sacrifices no veterans advantage to Me Brave means honoring my family's veterans and to remember why I am joining Ravens remembering all the veterans who served everything I joined Brave to get involved and give back to our community showing appreciation respect and honoring those who fought to defend our country I joined brave because my dad is in the Army so supporting veterans
015is very important to me I joined brief to show my respect and appreciation for those who served and protected our country [Music] [Applause] as you can see there are many reasons that have motivated our club members to participate in Brave each and every year at its core the theme is gratitude we appreciate you the men and the women who have served and continue to serve this nation so admirably thank you for your service and sacrifice we would now like to present the Armed Forces salute for those of you who do not know it is a medley of the official March past representing each of the five branches in the U.S military they are recognized in the following order Army Navy Coast Guard Air Force and Marine Corps to our veterans when your branch of service
016is displayed on the screen please stand to be recognized or simply raise your hand thank you foreign [Music] foreign [Music] thank you foreign [Music] thank you foreign [Music] foreign [Music] foreign [Music] foreign let's have one more round of applause for all of our veterans now I would like to introduce to the podium Nev stands Yao to read the poem in Flanders Fields by John McRae hi everyone I'm gonna be reading a poem titled in Flanders Fields in Flanders Fields the poppies blow between the crosses row on row that Mark our place and in the sky the Larks still bravely singing fly scarce heard amid the guns below we are the dead short days ago we lived felt Dawn saw Sunset glow loved and were loved and now we lie in Flanders Fields take up our
017quarrel with the foe to you from failing hands we throw the torch be yours to hold it high if ye break Faith with us who die we shall not sleep though poppies grow in Flanders Fields thank you [Applause] in this poem McRae memorializes a World War one battle which took place in April of 1915 in Belgium Lieutenant Colonel John McRae was a Canadian physician who tended to the injured throughout the 17-day battle the poem written after the death of a close friend and ultimately led to the adoption of the poppy as the flower of remembrance for the British in Commonwealth War dead these beautiful words challenged The Listener to reflect on the responsibility to those who have served and paid the ultimate sacrifice we hope this poem resonates with you and encourages deep reflection on
018Veterans Day thank you thank you nav I would now like to invite Anjali nanavati and Paulina rodani to the podium they will be explaining the symbolism associated with the white table foreign [Applause] good morning my name is Anjali nanavati you may have known as a small you may have noticed a small table set up on the stage this morning this table is known as America's white table or the Fallen man table and it has become a tradition for brave as we continue to honor our nation's veterans this table serves as a reminder of the soldiers who never made it home whether they were prisoners or more or missing in action every object set at the table represents a different aspect of the Soldier's experiences hello my name is Paulina rodani first the table is round
019to symbolize the undying commitment and concern for finding our fallen and missing soldiers the tablecloth is white to symbolize the Soldier's pure motives when responding to the Call of Duty a single red rose was placed in a vase as a reminder of the families and friends who continue to keep faith in finding these soldiers the base is tied with a red ribbon to show the continued memory of those who are no longer with us and the search for those who are still missing the yellow candle represents the endless hope for a cheerful reunion with those yet accounted for and reflects our ongoing desire for their return we are reminded of the better fate of those captured and missing by the lemon Slice on the plate the plate is sprinkled with salt to exemplify the tears
020shed by the missing in their families the napkin is black as a reminder of the confinement deprivation and the brutal fate of those soldiers the inverted glass stands to remind us of those who are not able to share to be here with us and lastly the chair is empty and tilted and will remain empty and tilted until all are missing are accounted for on this Veterans Day please remember to take the time to appreciate those who have returned home safely and were able to be here with us today but also all the brave men and women who responded to the Call of Duty and gave the ultimate sacrifice to their country thank you [Applause] I would now like to welcome members of the CHS honors choir who will be performing Mansions of the Lord to
021follow this foreign [Music] foreign [Music] the angels [Music] [Applause] at this time I would like to introduce Lauren wakeus and jack for Nicola who will be leading a solemn moment of silence last month a horrific and senseless tragedy occurred in the nearby City of Bristol two Bristol Police Department officers Lieutenant Justin Damonte and Sergeant Alex hamsey were murdered in the line of duty like military personnel local law enforcement officers do so much to serve and protect our local community Lieutenant Damonte was a 10-year veteran of the Bristol Police Department and co-recipient of his Department's 2019 officer of the year award he also had heart had worked as a school resource officer for the Bristol Police Public Schools he and his wife were expecting their third child Sergeant hamsey was an eight-year veteran of the department
022and had gotten letters of commendation during his tenure on his home Hometown police force himsy was also an advisor for the police cadet program please join me now in a moment of silence to honor these Brave public servants thank you I would now like to welcome Lydia Galley to the podium to share the importance of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in 1921 an American Soldier his name known but to God was buried on the hillside overlooking the Potomac River in our nation's capital over time this burial site became known as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier like thousands of Americans each year you may have visited the psalm Memorial which symbolizes the sacrifices of All American Service members each year at 11 A.M on Veterans Day an official ceremony takes place at the Tomb
023of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington Cemetery it includes the representation from all the branches of the U.S military and the president laser wreath at the site as we conclude the proceedings today we will hear a performance of TAPS which was recognized by Congress in 2012 as our national song of remembrance it astounded as the final call every evening on military installations and at military funerals ah foreign [Music] foreign [Music] [Applause] thank you Paul now I would like to welcome Emma balschmader to the stage to deliver some closing remarks foreign there are so many people who help make today possible first we are so grateful for Mr solomini whose expertise and assistance makes this event possible thank you to our custodial staff for assisting with all of the events set up thank you to CHS honors
024choir and band members who shared their talents with us this morning we also appreciate the support of Our Food Services Group lastly a big thank you to the Falk family and because of the brave for their generous donation of t-shirts to our club I will close by saying that today it has been our privilege to honor you the price of freedom is great we cannot afford to forget those who are willing to pay for it our way of life rests upon their shoulders today we celebrate America's veterans may we never forget that and may we never forget the service and sacrifice of our veterans thank you all for being here and have a wonderful Veterans Day okay so upperclassmen you can head back to your period six class