FWCD Celebrates Veterans

November 10 was a day of remembrance. All three divisions celebrated Veterans Day in their own way. Lower School hosted FWCD parent and Air Force Veteran Elijah Supper; Middle School seventh graders hosted the annual Veterans Day program, which featured Air Force Veteran Cavan Craddock, FWCD parent and husband of Humanities Teacher Dr. Tammy Craddock, as the keynote speaker; and Upper School experienced the powerful Missing Man Table ceremony. 

The day started with a special guest in the Lower School assembly. FWCD parent and Air Force Veteran Elijah Supper spoke about his experience flying the F-16 and the F-35 and how working hard and following your dreams connects with FWCD’s core values. This assembly was also the swan song program in the Lower School Atrium. 

The recognition then moved to the Upper School, where Western Hills High School ROTC performed a powerful POW/MIA formal ceremony known as the “Missing Man” Table. In this ceremony, each branch of the military is honored, and the program is meant to remind viewers of those fallen, missing, or imprisoned U.S. Military Service Members. Each item on the Missing Man Table represents the emotions and feelings reserved for those who did not come home. View the video on Facebook. 

The morning ceremonies concluded with FWCD seventh graders presenting their annual Veterans Day program, which includes the history of the day and the five branches of the armed service, followed by the flag walk. Air Force Veteran Cavan Craddock, FWCD parent and husband of Humanities Teacher Dr. Tammy Craddock, was the guest speaker. He shared a bit about his Air Force career and the core values and people he thinks about on Veterans Day. He talked about “KC” and “Lobo,” who each exemplified the core values of courage and integrity. He also paid tribute to the families of those in the service for their sacrifice and commitment to responsibility as they carry on when their family members are in harm’s way. A special moment of silence honored FWCD’s only graduate to die in service to his country, Captain David R. "Chip" Herr, Jr. ’80, to whom FWCD’s Veterans Garden is dedicated. Following the program, the students stood proudly holding their flags as the veterans walked through on their way to advisory, where they shared their stories and experiences from their time in the service. 

FWCD thanks all veterans for their service.