Stadium Flagpole Dedicated to Veterans

Head of School Eric Lombardi dedicated a new flagpole on campus to special veterans at November’s Middle School Veterans Day program. The flagpole, which stands by the scoreboard on Howard Family Field in Rosacker Stadium, was gifted to the School by an anonymous donor to be dedicated to United States Marine Corps member Bill Arnold ’86 and fellow FWCD veterans. Arnold, who worked at FWCD for 28 years (1994-2022), served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1990-94 and was a Marine Reserve from 1994-2006. 

After serving in the Marines, he began teaching at Fort Worth Country Day in 1994. He left the military to teach history and coach at his alma mater and raise a family with his wife, Debby.

In 2004, Bill took a seven-month sabbatical from FWCD to command a Marine Scout platoon fighting to retake the city of Fallujah (Iraq) in Operation Phantom Fury. He returned to civilian life and his role as a History Teacher in 2005, later serving as History Department Chair and The James S. Garvey Chair for Distinguished Teaching in History, Head of Upper School, and Director of Strategic Projects.  

Arnold is the Founder and Director of Blue Diamond Recreation, a nonprofit organization committed to providing restorative recreation activities for veterans and families challenged by the effects of the war. He was recently interviewed on the YouTube FORTitude podcast.