Mission & Academics Blog
Veterans Day Reflection
This week, our Brookfield Academy community came together to observe Veterans Day, and in doing so, we paused to consider a profound question: What does freedom really cost?
The answer walked through our doors in the form of parents, grandparents, and alumni — all heroes — men and women who chose to stand between us and harm, who left their homes and loved ones to face dangers most of us can scarcely imagine. They did this not for glory or recognition, but for something far greater: so that we might live freely.
Our campus was honored to host two assemblies that brought this sacrifice into clear focus. In the first, we welcomed back one of our own — a 1995 graduate, Christopher Shore, who served as a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Marine Corps for many years. Standing before our students, he became a strong connection between education and service. The assembly featured performances from our choirs and band, as well as recitations and a heartfelt essay. The gymnasium was filled not only with current students and staff but with veterans from our community, their presence a living testament to generations of service.
Our second assembly featured an Army Nurse who dedicated thirty years of her life to military service. Through her presentation, we gained insight into the often-overlooked role of nurses who have served on battlefields and in military hospitals throughout the decades, bringing healing and hope to the wounded, and offering comfort in frightening moments.
But beyond these simple events lies the true heart of Veterans Day — the recognition that everything we often take for granted rests on the shoulders of those who served. The freedom to choose where we live, what work we pursue, which school our children attend, how we worship, how we speak our minds — these aren't just rights listed in documents. They are gifts, purchased at an immeasurable price by veterans who put their lives on the line.
When we think about what our veterans have truly done for us, we must consider not just the abstract concept of freedom, but the tangible reality of our daily lives. Every morning we wake up in safety, every choice we make without fear, every dream we're free to pursue — these exist because someone was willing to risk everything to protect them.
This Veterans Day, and every day, let’s carry forward the spirit of gratitude and remembrance we kindled this week. We can teach our children that freedom is not passive — it requires both protection and appreciation. We can ensure that veterans know their sacrifices were not in vain, that we see them, honor them, and strive to be worthy of what they have given us.
