On Nov. 11, the Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFJROTC) held the Veterans Day Vigil in the Performing Arts Center (PAC). Honor Guard members participated in the event, meant to recognize those who served in the armed forces, POWs, MIA soldiers, and military families. The event, held at school, took place after another vigil held at the PAC on Saturday, Nov. 9.
Students and AFJROTC cadets alike filled the PAC during second period. On the center screen played a slideshow consisting of pictures of former cadets now serving in the military. Crosses and flowers surrounded a replica of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, located at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington D.C. A wreath was placed in front of the stage, centered with the rows of seats. At the far left corner in front of the stage laid a table with chairs, covered with silverware, condiments, and candles. Conversation hushed as the first speaker, sophomore Cadet 2nd Lieutenant Angel Otero Diaz, approached the podium.
The Changing of the Guard, which was periodically conducted throughout the ceremony, followed the brief, introductory speech. During this ritual, a cadet, donning a white glove, inspects each part of a rifle once. At Arlington National Cemetery, the guard is changed hourly from Oct. 1 to Mar. 31, while another change is performed on the half hour from Apr. 1 to Sep. 30.
After the first Changing of the Guard, any inquiries made about the isolated dining area standing out at the corner of the stage area were answered. Cadets proceeded to rest hats, symbolizing the five military branches, on the table, honoring POWs and MIA soldiers. During this time, as cadets formally presented each item, a speech explained the symbolism of each component of the table area.
Former cadets who served in the armed forces were given specific recognition. Deceased former cadet Patrick Deans, who joined AFJROTC his senior year, was paid tribute with the Battle Cross— a display consisting of a rifle, his image, boots, an army helmet, and a dog tag. Former cadet turned combat medic for the US military Peter Stednick, who was injured during his service, was honored through a reenactment of him receiving the Purple Heart. Military spouses were also acknowledged through a performance of a soldier and his pregnant wife and their emotional struggle representative of the well-known hardships of being an “army wife/husband.”
Planning for this ceremonial event began on the first day of school. As old components of the vigil were executed, new events were added to the program. “When we first started the program up in 2004, there was nothing— no type of Veterans Day celebration at all in east Orlando. So we started out in 2005, at the Founder’s Square in Avalon; we took a wreath at the fountain and we did the Changing of the Guard. Over the years, it’s evolved in what you saw yesterday. We built the replica of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, then each year we kind of added things….We wanted to have something that kind of covered everybody: the people who are still serving, the families, the people that we’ve lost, the people who’ve been injured, and the people who are still missing,” AFJROTC instructor and head of Honor and Color Guard Senior Master Sergeant Donald Dowdy said.
Several other events by Honor and Color Guard also took place during Veterans Day, such as the Veterans Day Ceremony at Avalon Elementary. Freshman Cadet Senior Airman Norynne Caleja, a member of Color Guard, participated in the service. “Well, it was nerve-wrecking since there were veterans and officers looking at us. I didn’t want to mess up because I didn’t want to embarrass myself in front of several veterans and officers. Also, there was a lot of kids, which made it harder because they thought we were really cool and I didn’t want to disappoint them by messing up,” Caleja said.
The recognition of veterans and their families, although important to the public, is equally significant to teenagers, especially AFJROTC cadets. Some cadets, such as Caleja, aspire to become pilots in the Air Force, thus becoming future veterans. Some teenagers may have lived the life of a military family, whether their parent or a close relative served. Freshman Livia Van Humbeeck’s father retired from the Air Force in 2012. “It’s fun because you get to go to different parts of the world, but it is also very hard because you lose lots of friends,” Van Humbeeck said. “I think the biggest sacrifice my dad made as a soldier was leaving my family behind to deploy to Iraq, Iran, and Afghanistan to serve overseas…”
Throughout the vigil, the quiet whisper of conversing students was completely absent, reflecting the heavy feeling of reverence amongst the crowd. Students usually do not refrain from chatting with their friends during events that allow them to abstain from attending classes. Maybe it is the place that veterans hold in the heart of Americans, or the first-hand experience some teenagers like Van Humbeeck have with America’s soldiers. Either way, the vigil resembled the significance of honoring this country’s warriors. “It’s definitely important to honor them as usual, and that’s what we’re here for; we’re here to honor the veterans. That’s what Honor Guard is all about…that’s all we’re here to do…” Diaz said.