St Rose of Lima School honored veterans with an assembly in the school’s gym on Monday, November 11. Students from grades 3-8, as well as St Rose staff, were in attendance for the special occasion.

The event started with students and staff singing “God Bless America” as the Knights of Columbus Honor Guard led the visiting veterans toward the front of the room. Each student waved their own miniature flag as the veterans and Knights of Columbus walked by them.

St Rose Principal Bardhyl Gjoka delivered the opening remarks, saying that Veterans Day is a very special day for everyone at the school. He directly thanked the veterans in attendance for taking time to visit and said that he gives them his most sincere gratitude for their service.”

“Thank you for your service. We’re forever grateful to you and many, many others who are not here today, family members, and veterans all across the nation, we thank you for your sacrifices and for everything you have had to go through to defend our freedom,” Gjoka said.

US Army Veteran Richard Monckton spoke next and pointed out the small white table in the middle of the assembly. Missing Man Table, also known as a Fallen Comrade Table, honors service members who could not join them for the ceremony, whether they fell in battle, went missing in action, or are prisoners of war. Monckton said that this “allows them to be here with us.”

He went on to thank St Rose staff for inviting them to the ceremony and letting them spend time with the community. Monckton said that they come together as a Catholic school community, not only to honor veterans, but to also reflect on the spirit, courage, and faith that their service to the nation provides.

“Let us pay tribute today,” Monckton continued. “Let us make a personal commitment to reach out and shake the hand of a veteran, whether it is a young soldier in uniform or an older Vietnam War veteran. Tell them you care, tell them you are grateful for their service, or tell them simply, thank you.”

Father Peter Cipriani came up to the front of the room to deliver a prayer dedicated to veterans. In remembering them and their service, he said that everyone has to do more than just remember, but that they have to live who they are inspired by.

He added, “If we leave this room and say, ‘Oh that was a great assembly,’ and not have it affect us in the way we live our lives, we miss the entire point of this assembly and this remembrance day.”

The veterans in attendance then got to take turns talking to the audience. Each veteran shared some background information on themselves, their history in the US Armed Forces, and what being a veteran means for them.

As is tradition for the St Rose Veterans Day event, the Knights of Columbus conducted their poster and essay contest for St Rose students in 7th and 8th grade respectively. The theme of the contest for both categories was, “What a Veteran Means to Me.” The Knights of Columbus members said that it was tough to pick out the three winners in each category, but were still excited to announce the winners during the assembly.

For the poster contest, first place was Jude McRuiz, second place was Camden Schaff, and third place was Rowan Franson. For the essay contest, first place was Natalia Canarozzi, second place was Mark Rynkiewicz, and third place was Evelyn Sweeting. Canarozzi, as the winner of the essay contest, read her essay during the assembly.

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Reporter Jenna Visca can be reached at jenna@thebee.com.