ACS students gathered for an all-school chapel on Friday, November 3 to honor and remember the sacrifices made by America’s veterans. Thirty-three veterans from every branch of the service, including parents, grandparents, and ACS faculty and staff, attended the chapel. Student Ambassadors greeted the veterans when they arrived and directed them to their front row seats as honored guests. The High School Wind Ensemble opened the program with a medley of patriot songs by George M. Cohan, followed by a greeting and prayer by Chief School Administrator Karen Oblen. After the chapel, various groups of ACS students greeted and thanked the veterans. Miss Price’s kindergarten students presented a large banner they painted with the image of the American flag to veterans from the Egg Harbor City American Legion Post 158, who plan to hang it in their meeting hall. CLICK HERE for additional photos from the Veterans Appreciation Chapel posted on the ACS Facebook page.
Four members of the ACS Boy Scout Troop 389 presented the colors and led the salutes to the American flag, the Christian flag, and the Bible. The PreK4 students made a special gift presentation to each veteran of a hand-made, red-white-and blue wooden star. The excitement and enthusiasm in the gym reached a high point during a patriotic music video, as close to 500 students and other audience members cheered and clapped as they heard each service anthem played and saw the veterans stand for the anthems. The program also featured the first and second grades performing “You’re A Grand Old Flag,” while waving small American flags, and the 5th grade worship team leading the audience in singing “Awesome God.”
Kevin Bernat, Jr., who served for four years in the U.S. Navy on the USS George Washington as a Boatswain’s Mate Petty Officer, gave the keynote remarks. He called on everyone in the audience to remember the sacrifices that veterans have made to protect and preserve our country’s freedoms. “Serving in the military, ordinary men and women do extraordinary things,” Bernat said. He recommended several ways that students could show their support for veterans. “First, be sure to say thank you when you see a veteran and not just on Veterans Day, but remember them every day,” Bernat said. ” Second, we should be praying for our veterans — for their protection as they serve and for those who are dealing with post-traumatic illnesses.”
Curtis Dull, a corporal in the U.S. Marine Corps who now serves on the ACS staff, closed the program with prayer after sharing his experiences in boot camp and urging the students to never take for granted the blessings that they enjoy as Americans that have been made possible by the sacrifices of America’s veterans.
