Students Join in Veterans Day Ceremony At Northbrook Junior High

NORTHBROOK, IL — More than 600 students welcomed 50 veterans and guests during a special Veterans Day ceremony Friday at Northbrook Junior High School.

American Legion Post 791 Commander Tom Kittler, Chaplain Tom Mahoney and Jr. Vice Commander Mike Korman led the program while the NBJH Wind Ensemble performed the national anthem, “America the Beautiful,” and a medley of the armed forces songs, according to Northbrook District 28.

"It's great that NBJH offers to host us. It gets the message out to the kids that being a veteran means something," Kittler said.

The district said that Greg Scapillato, band director, contacted the American Legion about 10 years ago looking to involve the band in the holiday and has been working in partnership with them ever since.

"This day and this event is a moment when we honor the sacrifice and service of these individuals, and we have the privilege to do so through music," Scapillato said. "Their performance today is a wonderful way to experience the power their gift of music can have on a community."

When the district changed Veterans Day to an attendance day in 2019, one of the bonuses was to involve students in recognizing veterans. After two years of assembly restrictions due to the pandemic, the all-school assembly returned.