Stephanie L./Staff
Academy commemorated Veterans Day with a heartfelt morning of reflection and gratitude across our campus. The ceremony began with the toll of the school bell atop Morris Hall in a total of 506 times–one for each of Academy’s 501 alumni, as well as the five faculty members who have served or are currently serving in the United States Armed Forces.
During the twenty minutes of ringing, students, faculty, and staff gathered around the Quad in silence to honor those who have dedicated their lives to protecting our nation. The event concluded with a performance of “America the Beautiful” by our upper school camerata choir, directed by Ryan Jenkins.
This annual tradition began in 2015 and has since become an important day of commemoration and remembrance for Academy. The school’s earliest veterans date back to one of its earliest graduates in 1914 and continue to the present day with active-duty service members.
Before the ceremony, upper school students, faculty, and staff were encouraged to participate in a voluntary PT session led by Mr. Olexio, a former lieutenant colonel, and Security Office, Mr. Molitor. Despite below-freezing temperatures, participants gathered in the Exline Fieldhouse before sunrise for a series of exercises inspired by and similar to military training.
Lieutenant Colonel Olexio, who served in the U.S. Army before beginning his career at Columbus Academy, shared his thoughts on what the day means to him and how the school’s tradition has grown. “I think it’s lovely that we have a thing like Veterans Day,” he said. “There is confusion at times between Veterans Day and Memorial Day, and it can also be a little awkward at times as a veteran being honored–most people don’t join a service job to get accolades for doing it–but it is lovely that people want to.”
Olexio talked about how the country’s relationship with its veterans has evolved. “After the Vietnam War,” he said, “people in our country who disagreed with our nation’s use of the military took it out on soldiers in a way that was awful. And so, I appreciate now that our country, which is quite divided about our government and administration, seems to be able to separate dislike from policy and the men and women who choose to serve.”
Olexio also praised Academy’s decade-long effort to honor those who have served. “It’s great! It’s relatively new, yet this has been going on for ten years. It was totally Mrs. Soderberg’s idea,” he said. “I remember asking the previous head of school if he minded if I wear my uniform, and he said, ‘Of course, that would be great’. I’ve been wearing my uniform here every year on Veterans Day since I came.”
When asked what he hopes students take away from the day, Olexio emphasized the importance of just slowing down and reflecting. He says, “We are so busy with school and events and activities. To take 15 minutes to pause and reflect on something outside of yourself, I think is always a good thing. On that day, we’re pausing to reflect on the service of people in our military.”
He also noted a growing awareness among students. “The fact that we’ve had recent graduates go into the military has raised a level of understanding about being in the Army or Navy that didn’t exist when I first got here,” he said.
Veteran’s Day morning at CA served as a reminder of the importance of pausing to appreciate those who have served and the sacrifices that they’ve made. What began as a small tradition ten years ago has now grown into a meaningful part of Academy’s culture, one that continues to bring the community together in gratitude and respect.
