As Americans pause to remember our veterans, students at St. Mark’s have taken opportunities to both honor and learn from those who served. On Friday morning, the day before Veterans Day, American flags dotted campus and students and teachers wore flag stickers to show their patriotism. Lower School Cub Scouts delivered “gratitude bags” to the five veterans serving on the faculty and staff — Reyno Arredondo, Doc Browning, Rick Cerovsky, Scott Hunt, and Jon Valasek.
Marksmen in Mrs. Santosuosso’s “A History of Special Ops” class are hearing firsthand accounts of duty and sacrifice. On Tuesday, former Air Force pilot Michael Wisenbaker ’93 gave a presentation on his time spent flying F-16 fighter jets in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Earlier this year, a former Green Beret visited the class and described his active involvement overseas. Future guests include St. Mark’s wrestling coach and retired Army Colonel Reyno Arredondo and a World War II veteran who served time as a POW.
“Our servicemen and women are put through so much that we can enjoy the freedoms we do. It is one thing to read about it, but it is completely different for someone to tell you,” said Blake DeSantis ’18, who organizes the St. Mark’s Armed Forces Club along with Josh Daniels ’18. “It is too easy to judge what is going on in the Middle East, or any other place for that matter, with our troops, but the truth is they are constantly trying to make the right decision in a stressful situation.”
St. Mark’s is proud to honor and support all of America’s veterans, including the more than 200 alumni who served or are actively serving in the armed forces.
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