Veterans Day began as Armistice Day to commemorate the end of World War I, but at Chadwick, it has become a heartfelt reminder that service surrounds us in the community.
On Nov. 7, the entire K-12 community, along with parents and guests, gathered in Rosenwald Amphitheater for the annual Veterans Day Assembly, honoring the courage, sacrifice, and enduring legacy of those who have served or continue to serve. Yet, this tradition hasn’t always looked the same.
The assembly originated decades ago as a small Village School event organized by Heart of the Village, a parent-led initiative under the Chadwick Parent Association (CPA) that gives younger students hands-on opportunities to serve.
Because Chadwick typically holds classes on Veterans Day, parent volunteers and Village School staff created an on-campus observance, pairing a short program with letter-writing projects for local veterans. In recent years, the assembly has expanded into a full school gathering, while the Village School continues its service project as part of the celebration.
This year’s event was a collective effort involving CPA volunteers, Assistant Director of the Upper Village Ann Biedenweg, Director of Community Engagement Marielle Sallo, Director of the Lower Village Deborah Levy, Lower Village Office Manager Grace Song, and many others who helped bring the assembly to life.
Assistant Head of School Julia Chun opened the assembly, followed by remarks from Army First Lieutenant and Upper School mathematics teacher Michael Cass, who urged students to rethink what service means beyond uniforms and medals and their own connections to veterans in their lives.
To help students understand the weight of the day, Cass led the amphitheater through a reflection exercise. He asked students to close their eyes and think of the one person, belief, or goal that matters most to them, then stand. He then asked them to stay standing only if they’d be willing to give their time, their well-being, or even their life to protect someone else’s right to hold a belief that might be entirely different.
“The people behind me and all whom we honor on Veterans Day were willing to make all of those sacrifices,” Cass said. “They believe so much in your right to these freedoms that they volunteered to dedicate their lives to protecting them.”
“The interaction asking whether you’re willing to lay down everything for an ideal really stuck with me,” said Jack Nguyen ’29.
This year also introduced new musical traditions. For the first time, the Upper School Orchestra performed the Armed Forces Medley, featuring the official song of each military branch. The Upper School Chorus partnered with Lower Village students to perform “Thank You, Soldiers.”
“I loved when the choir sang with the Lower Village,” added Jessica Lopez ’29, who has two veterans in her family. “It was so beautiful and impactful. Seeing the veterans’ reactions—some of them who even teared up—made it all feel real.”
“It was so heartening to see the body language of the veterans when their song played,” Song said. “They sat up a little bit straighter, that real smile of warmth, and you could tell they were flooded with memories.”
Added Song: “I have a deep, abiding respect and appreciation for our service members past and present., We get to go to work and get to enjoy all our freedoms. That shouldn’t be taken lightly.”
In addition to the assembly, the Community Service Advisory Board (CSAB) hosted card-writing stations on the Main Lawn, inviting students to write messages of gratitude throughout the week to be sent to the Tibor Rubin VA Medical Center in Long Beach, CA.
For faculty members honored at the assembly, the day sparked reflection on both the appreciation they felt and the lessons their service continues to carry.
“Veterans Day is a chance to honor the service of the veterans who served with me, around me, after me, and before me. I’ve had my life on the line more than a few times, and I know many others were prepared to do the same,” said Chris Calico, former U.S. Navy Lieutenant and Upper School mathematics teacher. “The only thing I ever ask is that if people say something about veterans, they mean it. That alone goes a long way.”
Cass echoed the sentiment for genuine understanding and gratitude: “There’s this expectation that someone else will do the dirty work, like leaving trash on the grass and assuming someone else will pick it up. A lot of people think, ‘Oh, the military? Let someone else do it. That’s not for people like me.’ And for most of the year, that’s the pervasive thought, but Veterans Day gives people a moment to realize: ‘Yeah, I wouldn’t have done that.’”
We all chase home-run moments, but most of the real impact comes from smaller plays that never make the highlight reel. You don’t have to cure cancer or lead a march to matter. Picking up trash, checking on a friend, or simply following the Core Values both on and off campus: those ordinary moments are service too.”
