Veteran’s Day Assembly continues MacArthur’s patriotic tradition
With speeches from military veterans, students, and performances from choir and band, the Veteran’s Day Assembly was an hour of patriotic pride.
Click here for a slideshow of pictures from the assembly.
On November 10, MacArthur Intermediate School hosted an assembly after second period for Veteran’s Day in the quad, as arranged by Assistant Principal Mr. Craig Johnson. Veteran’s Day is important for MacArthur because our school is named after General Douglas MacArthur, an American general who oversaw the Pacific campaign during World War 2. According to Johnson, patriotism is a core belief for MacArthur, so the school has a tradition of honoring veterans at the annual assembly.
Veterans Day, which is on November 11, is a national holiday made by the federal government. “Schools, banks, postal offices don’t have work,” said Johnson. Veteran’s Day is November 11 to commemorate the end World War 1. An armistice was signed on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month to put an official end to the war.
At the assembly, students heard different speakers’ experiences, specifically veterans of the U.S. military, who continue to play an active role in securing our country.
The speakers were: Lieutenant Commander Vincent Hamilton U.S Navy, an actor portraying General Douglas MacArthur (who was really History Teacher Mr. Charlie Andres’ father), Mrs. Helen Nielson, giving the history of the chocolate candy bomber, and Sargent Dennis Russell. Also speaking were retired History Teacher Mr. Ralph Hulett, eighth-graders Aaliyah Magcasi and Andrew Atmojo, and the president of the United States of MacArthur, Jonah Tristan, who gave a speech thanking the eighth grade students who voted for him.
Johnson organized and led the assembly, beginning to plan it in August. Besides the speakers, MacArthur’s choir and band performed, as well. The beginning girls choir students sang “My Country ‘Tis of Thee” and “The Star Spangled Banner.”
Seventh-grader Alondra Pinedo, who performed with the band, said, “At first it was nerve racking, but I got used to it after the first few minutes.”
Seventh-grader Dominic Pedroza said, “It was a good assembly, but I wish it wasn’t in the hot sun. I learned that General Douglas MacArthur – about his father and grandfather joining the army.”