It was a memorable Veterans Day Celebration Assembly at Kings Glen Elementary on Monday, November 12. 

After a day of Thanksgiving lunches with parents and shopping at the Annual Fall Book Fair, the school community came together to honor our veterans. The 6th grade chorus sang the National Anthem and the Student Government leaders shared the origins of Armistice Day.  One student elegantly recited a freedom poem before two sisters memorialized the life of their Great Grandfather Leo, a veteran, in fine detail.

Guest speaker Naval Commander Dan Duhan was warmly introduced by his daughter. She poignantly shared with fellow students the trials and tribulations of being a child in a military family. Her father laughed when he spoke to students and staff about how seeing the movie, Top Gun, inspired him at age 10 to want to join the Navy—but it was in leading people and piloting ships that he was inspired to stay. He has been awarded the Navy Commendation Medal and the Navy Achievement Medal, among others. Commander Duhan reminded the audience to “never forget” those in service to the country.

Former Army Special Forces staff sergeant and Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Ron Shurer was enthusiastically introduced by his 5th grade son. The young Shurer spoke proudly of his father, highlighting details of his dad’s brave deeds for very awed classmates.  He explained that the honor his dad had earned was very rare and very special. Sergeant Shurer, former Army medic and green beret, shared that he was inspired to join the military after 9/11. He humbly explained that fear and bravery coexist, but that he knew when things were exploding around him in Afghanistan, he just had to take care of his teammates and do what he was trained to do.

The Kings Glen gym, filled with parents, staff, and students, was still and silent, as all admired the service of these two amazing veterans.  Their messages of caring, courage and hard work provided a foundation for meaningful reflection and authentic understanding of all veterans.