John Jay HS 'Field of Honor' Thanks Local Veterans In Big Way

CROSS RIVER, NY — There were no half measures as a local high school pulled out all the stops to honor veterans.

John Jay High School's Veterans Day ceremony, hosted by the JJ4Vets club, took place on the school’s front lawn on Thursday. As portions of the Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Air Force and Marines anthems were played, veterans in attendance from each corresponding branch of the United States Military stood.

John Jay High School’s Band, conducted by Jared Henderson, performed a medley of the official songs of each branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, with rows of flags in perfect lines and music written to inspire, as part of the impressive Field of Honor.

After JJ4Vets co-presidents Will Matthews and Grant Vialardi welcomed those gathered, Principal Siciliano spoke about the unity of the armed forces. "In harm’s way especially, no one cared if their buddy was a Democrat or a Republican, all they had was each other," Siciliano said.

Henry Niell, the security greeter of John Jay and Guest of Honor, echoed that message with the unity he sees at John Jay High School. "I hope we all understand how fortunate we are to be here," said Niell, describing the school’s diverse cultures and backgrounds as a community of respect.

John Lemke, the Chair of the Town of Lewisboro’s Veterans Advisory Committee, brought the message of Veterans Day even closer to home for the students. He paid tribute to the alumni of John Jay High School who were killed in action during the Vietnam War and in Beirut, Lebanon — one, just months after his graduation. Their stories were researched this past year by JJ4Vets co-president Grant Vialardi.

Lemke also led the fundraising for the commemorative stone for the six veterans that would be dedicated at the Lewisboro Townhouse on Veterans Day.

The ceremony closed with music the flags could march to — John Philip Sousa’s "The Stars and Stripes Forever."