9th Annual Military Appreciation Assembly Held

This morning the O'Neal Community held its 9th annual Military Appreciation Assembly in the Hannah Center Gymnasium.
O’Neal families entered campus with flags flanked along the drives thanks to Parents Association volunteers. Excitement was in the air as the students and active and veteran military families attended the assembly in the Hannah Center Gymnasium.

Head of School John Elmore welcomed everyone. It was the first time that the school community had assembled for an event since March of 2020. The O’Nealers kicked off the assembly with the singing of the National Anthem.

The guest speaker was retired Lieutenant Colonel Matt McGraw.  LTC McGraw graduated from Mount Saint Mary’s University in 2000 and became an Army Signal Officer.  He deployed three times in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and ended his military career as the J8 Chief of Operations at Joint Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, NC. He retired in May 2020. He is the father of O'Neal Falcons TJ ’23, Taylor ’25, Morgan ’30 and Mark ’35.

The audience was quizzed on the war with which Veterans Day was associated. LTC McGraw reviewed its history and focused on the sacrifices of those in the military and their families. TJ McGraw ’23, LTC McGraw’s son, followed with a message of gratitude to those military families in the O’Neal Community.
A special video was shown featuring more than 75 active military and veterans belonging to the O’Neal Community.

The O’Nealers concluded with a “Thank You Veterans” song.

All attendees were treated to light breakfast items as they left the Hannah Center.

Click to watch a video of the assembly: https://youtu.be/vEXROhawBtI
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