On Wednesday, November 12, El Dorado High School (EDHS) held its thirteenth annual Veterans Day Ceremony at the campus’s Fallen Heroes Memorial. Each year, this solemn observance is supported by Placentia Boy Scout Troop 723, the Binnings family, and the school’s jazz band, vocal ensemble, and digital media arts programs.
The Fallen Heroes Memorial, constructed in 2013 as an Eagle Scout project by Andrew Binnings, a 2014 EDHS graduate, has since served as the central gathering place for honoring veterans during this annual commemoration.
“Veterans Day, observed on November 11 in the United States, honors all military veterans who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, both living and deceased,” shared Principal Dave Okamoto. “Although I personally never met these men, it is extremely important that we honor their service, courage, and commitment as they protected our freedom.”
The Memorial recognizes three EDHS alumni who gave their lives in service to the nation: U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sergeant William Harrell (Class of 1992), U.S. Marine Corps Corporal Claudio “Nene” Patiño IV (Class of 2006), and U.S. Army Sergeant Jason Michael Weaver (Class of 2007).
This year’s ceremony featured remarks from EDHS ASB President Jasmin Yeung, who served as emcee, as well as a poetry reading by student Makaela Moore. EDHS Counselor Dana Armstrong, who played a key role in the establishment and preservation of the Memorial, offered reflections on its lasting significance. She stated, “This sacred place serves as a daily reminder of the extraordinary sacrifice made by our El Dorado heroes—young men who once walked these same halls, sat in these classrooms, and wore the black and gold with pride. They gave their lives in service to something greater than themselves, and through this memorial, we promise their families they will never be forgotten. Their names are more than inscriptions on stone; they represent lives of purpose, valor, and love for their country. For the past twenty years, I have had the privilege of serving as a counselor at El Dorado High School. I have watched generation after generation of students learn not only academics but the deeper lessons of character, responsibility, and service—values that our veterans embody every single day.”
Guest speaker Craig S. Green, a United States Navy veteran and longtime Placentia resident, also addressed attendees. Mr. Green and his wife, Beverly, have lived in Placentia for more than three decades and raised three children, all graduates of the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District. Mr. Green served in the U.S. Navy both as an enlisted sailor and as a commissioned officer, completing two deployments to Vietnam aboard amphibious ships before earning a bachelor’s degree in political science from California State University, Fullerton, and receiving his commission as a Navy Ensign. His distinguished naval career included assignments at the U.S. Naval Academy and in Washington, D.C., where he worked alongside Admiral H. G. Rickover, widely regarded as the father of the Nuclear Navy. Following his active-duty service, Mr. Green continued his commitment to public service through leadership roles in the private sector, his tenure as City Treasurer, and later as a member of the Placentia City Council, including two terms as Mayor.
A particularly moving portion of the ceremony featured Mr. Green leading the Veteran Roll Call. As names were read aloud, attending veterans responded until the names of the fallen Golden Hawks were spoken. To further honor their memory, EDHS senior and trumpeter Jack Lewis performed “Taps,” the solemn melody traditionally associated with military funerals and memorial observances.
All EDHS students and staff viewed the ceremony via livestream in their classrooms, courtesy of the school’s Digital Media Arts Academy. The full ceremony is available for viewing here.
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