Benjamin Community Honors Our Nation's Veterans
The Benjamin School community paused on the morning of November 10 to honor our nation’s veterans and those who are serving in active duty, for their selfless sacrifices on our behalf. Both campuses honored these brave men and women with ceremonies that included band and dance performances.
Marshall Mullnix, middle school social studies department chair, led the ceremony for lower and middle school students. Mr. Ruedisili, whose sons Kody '13 and Kyle '14 graduated from Benjamin, spoke to the middle school about his time in the service. Members of both our school and local community were in attendance and were treated to performances by the middle school band and chorus.
Head of Upper School Fletcher Carr welcomed students to the assembly on the upper school campus, and shared his memories as a seven-year-old witnessing a Veteran’s Day Ceremony in his home town.
“What I remember most, however, was the change in the feeling around me from one of celebration to a much more serious feeling - what I would now identify as reverence - as the veterans passed - and in a nation that was deeply divided over an unpopular war and many other critical issues in 1969, the one common feeling we acknowledged that morning was a sense of respect and gratitude for the service and sacrifice that the men marching by us had undertaken for our nation. As is always the case with history, there are many parallels to be made in how we as a nation may view America’s military role in the world. However we may feel about a particular military action, we seem always to have been able to rise above our partisan views to honor those who serve,” said Carr.
Carr introduced faculty member Alex Terry, a Lieutenant in the Florida National Guard, who spoke about what Veteran’s Day and service means to him. Tarry explained the seven Army Values and drew parallels between those values and the 12 Benjamin values. Tarry encouraged students to remember and honor those who are often overlooked on Veteran’s Day: spouses.
“As we remember and thank the veterans who have served in the past and those who serving today, we also need to think about those that have sacrificed just as much but may not have
chosen to enlist or commision. These people are the spouses and family members of our veterans. They have spent countless days and nights alone while their husbands, wives, moms, or dads have been away defending our freedoms,” Tarry said.
The student body was then treated to performances by The Dazzlers dance team and the band and chorus.
Main Address & Lower/Middle School
11000 Ellison Wilson RoadNorth Palm Beach, FL 33408
Ph: 561.626.3747
A premier PK3 - Grade 12 independent, coeducational day school with campuses in North Palm Beach and Palm Beach Gardens. Since 1960, The Benjamin School has provided a challenging college preparatory education to a diverse student body in a structured, nurturing community environment.