As part of a recent Lower School (LS) Assembly, several students acknowledged Veterans Day by proudly sharing personal stories and photos of family members who have served or are serving in the military. Noni J. ’36 began by introducing her Uncle Troy, who is currently in the U.S. Air Force and stationed in Kuwait. Next, Jordan M. ’35 said, “My Grandpa Rocky was a soldier in the U.S Army, and he fought in the Vietnam War… My grandma still has his uniform jacket that he’s wearing in this picture, and it’s very special to our family.” Siblings Avery D. ’33 and Charley D. ’35 shared photos of their great-grandfathers, who both served during WWII. Avery said her grandma’s dad, Richard Fradkin, received a Silver Star medal for his bravery. “He was crossing a bridge with his division when the bridge was blown up—he was the only one to survive,” said Avery. “He then spent a day and a half by himself in enemy territory before he was able to get back to safety. We feel very proud of our great grandpas’ military service and we’re grateful that they both survived World War II.”

In addition to students’ reflections on the service and sacrifices of the brave men and women who protect our country, a group of LS students recently enjoyed a D-E 360° “Discovery Day” field trip to the Intrepid Museum in New York. “The day aboard the Intrepid, a WWII aircraft carrier, offered not only fun and learning, but also a meaningful reminder of courage, innovation, and dedication,” said Dr. Brown P’31,’31, Director of D-E 360°. To all our veterans, thank you for your service!