To honor the military this Memorial Day, Stamford High School faculty set up an assembly with veterans to show what Memorial Day is really about. To many, Memorial Day marks the start to summer, but the veterans were here to remind us that there is much more to it.

Organized by Stamford High History Department Head Douglas MacLehose, the assembly took place in room 101 with over 100 students and faculty in attendance. The event kicked off with the Madrigals singing the Nation Anthem, and then a quick video on the backstory of Memorial Day and all the wars we remember on this holiday. The video displayed powerful images of WWII and Arlington Cemetery and emblazoned the phrase “No ordinary weekend.”  After, the 11 veterans were introduced with a brief description of their military career and their connection to Stamford, and given a chance to speak.

Some of the speakers included James “J.J.” Jordan, an SHS security guard who served in the Persian Gulf War, and Mr. Grillo, an SHS science teacher who served many years in the reserves. There were also veterans from WWII, such as Charlie Guinta who served during the Marine invasion of Iwo Jima, and Pobie Johnson who served in the WACs (Women Auxiliary Corps), and the Vietnam War, such as Alan Sosnowitz, who was drafted into the Army just at the start of the war. They all spoke about the significance of Memorial Day and how we need to celebrate both the living and the dead on this holiday. As speaker and former SHS teacher Sherwin Baer eloquently put it, “a veteran is someone who, at some point, wrote a blank check to the government … and they need to be celebrated for that sacrifice.”Mareesca Gordon

After introductions and speaking, the floor opened up to questions from the students. One question asked was “what is the most valuable lesson you have learned while serving?” which was answered by Alan Sosnowitz, who responded that “the military made me grow up” and that after the war and his experiences at boot camp he went back to find “everyone else seemed like babies” compared to where his maturity had gone. This same feeling was also expressed by JJ and Archie Elam, a West Point Graduate, who said “We all need discipline,” and that is what the military taught him.

After a few other questions the event closed out with the madrigal singers singing “In the House of Our Lord” and the presentation of plaques to thank the veterans for coming and speaking to the students and for their service in the military.