On Friday, November 8, El Dorado High School (EDHS) hosted its seventh annual Veterans Day ceremony at its Fallen Heroes Memorial on campus. Each year, the ceremony is supported by Placentia Boy Scout Troop 723, Esperanza High School\u2019s Air Force Junior Reserve Officers\u2019 Training Corps (ROTC) program, and the school’s Choral Program.<\/p>\n
The Fallen Heroes Memorial was constructed in 2013 as an Eagle Scout project by Andrew Binnings, a 2014 EDHS graduate. The Memorial honors the three El Dorado graduates who sacrificed their lives defending the country \u2013 U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sergeant William Harrell (92), U.S. Marine Corps Corporal Claudio \u201cNene\u201d Pati\u00f1o IV (06), U.S. Army Sergeant Jason Michael Weaver (07).<\/p>\n
This year\u2019s ceremony speakers included a keynote address from\u00a0United States Army\u00a0Colonel Robert Paoletti, as well as readings from EDHS ASB President, Colby Bladow, EDHS ASB Vice President, Noah Campuzano, and Theater Publicity Chair,\u00a0Jessa Laboissenniere.<\/p>\n
In front of the ceremony\u2019s reflective audience, Col Paoletti spoke of the honor and sacrifice that veterans have made that led to this celebration of freedom. He then conducted a ceremonious Veteran Roll Call. Name after name, Veterans in attendance responded, \u201cSir, here, sir,\u201d to Col Paoletti, until the names of the fallen Golden Hawks were announced. To commemorate the fallen, EDHS trumpeter, Romario Granados Alvarez, played \u201cTaps,\u201d the distinctive melody performed at U.S. military funerals and memorials.<\/p>\n
In addition, 95-year-old World War II Veteran, Mr. Filiberto Lopez Montano, who recently received his diploma from Valencia High School in June 2019, was also recognized as a special part of this year’s ceremony. A story about his experience was shared with those in attendance.<\/p>\n
For the third year in a row, all students and staff were able to live stream the Veterans Day ceremony in their classrooms courtesy of El Dorado\u2019s Digital Media Arts Academy. The full ceremony is available to watch below.<\/p>\n