ACS students gathered for an all-school chapel on Friday, November 15 to honor and remember the sacrifices made by America’s veterans. Egg Harbor Township Mayor Paul W. Hodson and forty-eight veterans from every branch of the service, including parents, grandparents, and ACS faculty and staff, attended the chapel.
Chief School Administrator Karen Oblen greeted the veterans and opened the program with prayer, followed by worship led by the High School Worship Team. Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) member, Mrs. Elizabeth Naylor, spoke about her “Super Stars Project” – a service project of the DAR where members cut out stars from American flags that had been decommissioned and can no longer fly. Mrs. Naylor brought special white stars as gifts to all the veterans in attendance. The speech was followed by the Middle School Choir’s rendition of “My County ‘Tis of Thee,” the presentation of the colors by the ACS Boy Scout Troop 389 and the middle and high school band’s performance of the “Star Spangled Banner.”
A special “Armed Forces Medley” video was shown and students cheered and clapped as each service anthem played and the veterans stood for the anthem.
Major General Mark Loeben, who has 31 years of military service, both active and reserve, gave the keynote remarks. He shared his experiences in the US Air Force and the importance of serving in the Armed Forces.
To close out our service, the third grade class sang and performed “God Bless the U.S.A” and handed out handmade gifts to all the veterans. Sixth grade student Paityn Nicole Kates read her essay “What Veteran’s Day Means To Me.”
Curtis Dull, a corporal in the U.S. Marine Corps who now serves on the ACS staff, shared a letter he received from ACS student Victoria Hines and closed the program with prayer.
Click here to view photos from our Veterans Appreciation Chapel
