Article by Phoenix writer Keira Quigley ’26:
On Thursday, November 9th, 2023, Kellenberg hosted its annual Veterans Tribute Dinner, welcoming 350 people with over 100 of them being veterans.
This event was an opportunity for Kellenberg students to bring a family member or friend who served in the military and honor them as well as their sacrifice with a free dinner provided by the Kellenberg History Department.
The Veterans Tribute Dinner began with a flag ceremony, where American flags were carried in followed by the flags representing each branch of the military.
A ceremony was held to honor the members of the military who are POWs and MIA.
Kellenberg students gave speeches throughout the event. Mr. Marone, who runs this event as a member of the history department and the history club, shared, “The fact that we have high school seniors, seventeen year olds, getting up and giving heartfelt speeches about veterans and their gratitude towards them, I think really hits home for the veterans.”
The event also hosted war reenactors who represented veterans from various time periods who are no longer alive today. They dressed in the uniforms of soldiers from the Civil War, World War 1, and World War 2 to pay respect to these men and women. There was also a reenactor who dressed as an Apollo Astronaut.
Overall, the Veterans Tribute Dinner was a very moving event for all of the attendees.
The dinner has been a Kellenberg tradition for the past 22 years, only canceling due to Hurricane Sandy in 2012 and COVID-19 during the quarantine. During its first year, the Veterans Tribute Dinner had 75 guests, and it was hosted in the school’s library. Over time, the event has blossomed into what it is today.
