WLHS Hosts Hundreds of Veterans for Annual Veterans Day Program

As part of its annual Veterans Day observance on Monday, November 11, Wisconsin Lutheran High School (WLHS) hosted hundreds of veterans from all branches of the military who served in World War II through the recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, including Iraq and Afghanistan war veteran Major Craig Kuphall.

“We are humbled to welcome Major Craig Kuphall to Wisconsin Lutheran on this special day for our annual observance event,” said Matt Bilitz, director of mission advancement at Wisconsin Lutheran High School. “He called students to be heroic in their everyday lives and delivered a message of respect for our veterans. On behalf of the students, faculty and staff of Wisconsin Lutheran, we thank him and all service men and women for their service to our country in protecting our freedoms.”

Following a procession of veterans into the WLHS gymnasium, Kuphall, who was a junior at Wisconsin Lutheran High School at the time of the 9/11 attacks, explained to students how impactful that event was on his life. He said it inspired him to join the armed forces and follow in the footsteps of servant leaders he saw every day in school and in his community.

"I watched America unite in a way that filled me with pride," said Kuphall, of the response to the events of September 11, 2001. "I knew that I had to join something greater than myself."

He described how the values we associate with veterans – patriotism, heroism, honor and bravery – are characteristics we can and should all exhibit, and that the call to serve might look different for each of us. Kuphall also shared the importance of embracing veterans on a personal level by thanking them for their service and having personal conversations with them about their experiences.

Prior to the program, veterans, many in uniform and memorial apparel, were served breakfast in the cafeteria by WLHS students and enjoyed musical entertainment from student performers.