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Sheepdogs |
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Each year since 2006 The title of this section of www.DYPD.us is, “Sheepdogs,” the term
is explained below in the remarks delivered to the Class of 2006. |
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Class of 2011 |
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Remarks written and deliver by June 10, 2011 For
six years I have been permitted to come to this microphone and address this
very special assembly to recognized members of the senior class who have
enlisted in the armed forces of the I put
considerable effort into coming up with words important enough to speak into
a microphone and worthy of those people we intended to honor. On those previous occasions I told stories
from history, talked about what it means to walk the warrior’s path and the
gravity of the oath our enlistees have taken.
I talked about virtues like volunteerism, commitment, and of
honor. And all of this started in 2006
with the story of the sheepdog who willfully chooses to stand alone before
the flock and confront the wolf that would do them harm. All of those words were intended to convey
one very simple message; a message that is normally delivered in just two
small words. Thank you. Today
I bring you no history except for our own.
I have brought you no story to engage you mind’s eye because no
embellishment is required to emphasize what six of our seniors have done. They have enlisted in our armed forces in a
time of war. The message we convey
today must be clear and without veil.
Thank you. Thank
you for your courage; Thank
you for placing service above self; and Thank
you for standing up for all of us. These
six members of the senior class will doubtlessly come to find that military
life, while formative and rewarding, certainly has its hardships. They will have their bodies, minds and
spirits tested in ways difficult to imagine for those who have never done it. To
the enlistees I say this to you: When
the times are toughest, whether in basic training, in the field or aboard
ship, I want you to think of today, and remember the gratitude and the pride
you felt when D-Y stood up for you and in one voice said thank you, and draw
strength and resolve from all of us. We will present a plaque to each graduate enlistee that reads, “Presented on behalf of a grateful
community with respect and pride on your enlistment into the “Freedom
is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to
our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed
on for them to do the same.” We put our freedom in your hands to preserve and to protect. We wish you Godspeed and a safe return; and we say thank you. We are D-Y and this is our tradition. I present the Sheepdogs of the
Class of 2011. Enlisted in the Kathleen Aguiar
Enlisted in the Danny Lennon Enlisted in the Reese Smith Enlisted in the Jared Braginton-Smith
Enlisted in the Zoe Fennell Enlisted in the Nicole Morgan Click here to see it on YouTube. |
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Class of 2010 |
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Remarks written and deliver by June 11, 2010 Several
years ago newsman Tom Brokaw wrote a book called The Greatest Generation. It was about the people who grew up during
the Great Depression and went on to fight and win World War II. The term “The Greatest Generation” has
become part of our national shorthand to describe those people who lived
though some of the most trying times in our nation’s history. When Secretary of Defense Melvin Laird ended the draft
on January 27, 1973 with the conclusion of the Vietnam War. Since then the There would be no draft to augment the relatively
small number of volunteers who rallied to the flag this time. Instead, the full burden of fighting what
would become two wars simultaneously has fallen exclusively on their
shoulders. There is no surprise in
that a few have borne the burden for the rest, it has become an axiom; like
the lone sheepdog that chooses to stand between the flock and the wolf. The truly astounding thing is that in the
longest period of prolonged war in our history, second only to the
Revolutionary War itself; we can still find that volunteer sprit amongst you. As I bid my twenty-two year old cousin Andre
goodbye six weeks ago, before he left for Army basic training at Fort Leonard
Wood I pondered aloud to the assembly of family and friends: If we rightfully
call my grandparents the people of the “Greatest Generation”, what will
history call this generation of volunteers who are doing it on their
own. What is greater than the
greatest? The
privilege is mine to announce the members of the class of 2010 who have
enlisted in the United States Armed Force. They will receive a plaque, which reads: “Presented on behalf of a grateful
community with respect and pride on your enlistment in the And a quote: “By the sword we
seek peace, but peace only under liberty.” While that sounds like something a Viking might
shout from the deck of his long boat just before an invasion, it is a saying
that actually appears on your driver’s license. Is it the motto of the Enlisted in the Shauna
Edwards Enlisted in the Ashley
Jacob Currently serving in the United States
Marine Corps Samantha
Hudson Enlisted in the Alan
Packer Enlisted in the Christopher
Schakel Enlisted in the Evan Tuohy-Bedford
(L) D-Y Assistant
Principal Tony Morrison (M) Samantha Hudson, Class of 2010 / United
States Marine Corps (R) Left photo by Reade Scott Whinnem Right photo by Judy Provencher Samantha Hudson left D-Y to report to basic training
prior to graduation exercises for the Class of 2010 which were held on June
12th. Her last day at D-Y was Friday
May 28th. Sam was recognized for her enlistment by Assistant Principal Tony
Morrison and School Resource Officer Nick Pasquarosa in small ceremony before
a group of her classmates on her last day at D-Y. Sam is the only graduate to leave D-Y for
the armed forces prior to graduation and return from the military to receive
her diploma since a group of World War II veterans were awarded theirs in
1998. |
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Class of 2009 |
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Remarks written and deliver by June 12, 2009 Thomas
Jefferson said, “The boisterous sea of liberty is never without a wave.” If liberty were a placid lake then there
would be no need for soldiers; or police officers for that matter. I could become a fireman, everyone loves a
fireman. Simply put, Thomas Jefferson
was saying that freedom is hard. It’s
hard to get it, it’s hard to keep it, and we have seen over the last several
years that it is not at all easy to share and you can not give it as a
gift. Certainly human history tells us
that freedom is never given and there is always a dark force waiting to take
it away. In the relatively short history of America we
have had to rest our own liberty from a tyrannical power, and then fight a
second time to keep it; we have fought ferociously amongst ourselves over the
very meaning of freedom, and we have stood up to the challenge of two world wars
to preserve it. The peace that
followed each of these events was always short lived. While we patiently wish and wait for peace to
break out in our own time we would do well to know that when it comes it will
not be permanent. Because of the
unique role I was
asked last week why we recognize military enlistee’s at Senior Last
Assembly. Why don’t we recognize
others who aspire to public service, like those who aspire to be police
officers and fire fighters and teachers?
The reason is that military enlistment is not an aspiration it is a
commitment to a way of life and one that starts for these honorees almost
immediately. In fact one of the people
whose name I will call leaves for basic training on Sunday and is not here
with us today nor will he be with us on the field tomorrow because he has
already begun his military service.
Furthermore, aspirations can change over time. If, for instance, you get into police work
and find it isn’t for you, you can always quit. No such option is available for someone who
has raised their right hand and sworn to uphold the Constitution and defend
us from all enemies, foreign and domestic.
As it happens, this is one of the best attributes of an American
soldier… They don’t quit. Each of these honorees has personal reasons for
making the choice to join the armed forces.
I would not presume to speak to those reasons but I can speak to the
tremendous pride and admiration we have in them for making it. While today’s current events are rightly and
passionately debated, the reality is it will be at least forty years before
we truly begin to understand their historical significance. A war is right / a war is wrong, is not the
issue of today’s presentation. This
decision, made by the few, for the benefit of the many is. They have answered their own call and will
become a part of that history on our behalf.
If the “The boisterous sea of liberty is never
without a wave” then these fine young people are our breakwater. If we do not recognize them now, then when?
Now, I am privileged to introduce the members of
the class of 2009 who have confirmed orders for their enlistment into the
United States Armed Forces. Joseph Elliot Kathryn Labarie
United State Marine Corps Christian Brigham Joshua Fernandes |
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Class of 2008 |
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Remarks written and deliver by June 13, 2009 Mr. Morrison normally stands
with us. He could not be here today. He
asked me three times to make sure I told you he would be here if he
could. He is attending the funeral of
a member of his National Guard unit who died in a traffic accident during
training. Mr. Morrison could not be
here; Sergeant Morrison simply had to be there. He knew you would understand that. Recognition
of Military Enlistees Albert Einstein said “The world is a dangerous place,
not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do
nothing.” Our remarks this morning are
about those among you who have decided to stand up and do something. In the coming weeks and months
many of you will be settling into your dorms and starting your classes, some
of you will be meeting the new boss, while these few of your classmates will
be completing basic training. In the same coming weeks and
months each of them will raise their right hand and take an oath. Some have
taken it already. By taking the oath they have made a solemn pledge both to
their country and to all of us. Having
taken the oath ourselves we can attest that it is no small promise. By raising their hands they
pledge to defend When we lay down our heads at
night, and pull that warm blanket of freedom up over us, we should all take a
moment and think of those who provided it and where it was that they spent
the night. When we wake up in the morning we would do well to remember that
the price of that peaceful nights sleep is paid by them - because they took
an oath and made no small promise. We recognize them in this forum
because to just let them go, without a word, would
be wrong. We invite you to join us in
publicly giving them the thanks and recognition they rightly deserve. It is our privilege to present
to you the sheepdogs of the Class of 2008.
They will receive a plaque, which reads: “Presented on behalf of a grateful
community with respect and pride on your enlistment in the And the quote by ~ Albert Einstein “The world is a dangerous
place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and
do nothing.”
So that they and their families never forget that they were among the few who
chose to do something. We now call the names of those
who have volunteered. Enlisted in the Kehan Connors Enlisted in the Megan Moran Enlisted in the Sam Lowell Enlisted in the Andrew Colucci Enlisted in the Robert Reardon, Jr. Enlisted in the Colin Ramalho Enlisted in Christopher Arrigo Enlisted in Nicholas Green Thank you. |
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Class of 2007 |
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Remarks written and deliver by June 8, 2007 Two weeks ago D-Y hosted
veterans from several of I pose a question: for the past
four years have heroes been walking among us?
In the crowd of fresh faced school boys before me is there someone who
will distinguish themselves with valor.
Is that the true test? Or is
the distinction in the service itself?
Most in the military serve in
support roles and are not intended to see action on the front line. But when the Blackhawks were going down in Mogadishu in 1993 and Task Force Ranger, one of
America’s Elite fighting forces, was cut off, surrounded, and without back
up. When 117 men found themselves
fighting the entire city, it was the cooks, mechanics and air traffic
controllers that grabbed their rifles, donned their armor and mounted their humvees and rode to the rescue. That is the heart of the volunteer. Those who step up to be It is our privilege to present
to you the sheepdogs of the Class of 2007; each has either already completed
or has confirmed orders to report for basic training in their respective
service. They will receive a plaque,
which reads: “Presented on behalf of a grateful
community with respect and pride on your enlistment in the And a quote by ~ Thomas Paine “Those who expect to reap the blessings of
freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it.” Enlisted in the Taylor Gow Adam Harper Enlisted in the Shawn Williams Enlisted in United States
Marine Corp Joshua Daubert Thank you. |
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Class of 2006 |
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Remarks written and deliver by June 9, 2006 Last evening, at awards night,
we celebrated the achievements of many of the members of the Class of
2006. This morning I draw your
attention to what amounts to just over 2% of your classmates who have also
distinguished themselves and who may have otherwise gone unnoticed. Those who have chosen to walk the warrior’s
path. It is
important to note that everyone serving in the armed forces today
enlisted or reenlisted during a time of war.
And regardless of whatever personal views you may have on this
war or a war or war in general, I submit to all of you assembled here that
their decision to enlist demands your respect. If
you will indulge me I would like to paraphrase from the writings of retired
Army Lieutenant Colonel Dave Grossman, who spoke to your teachers in
January. He wrote: "Most of the people in our society are
sheep. They are kind, gentle, productive creatures who can only hurt one
another by accident." "Then there are the wolves, and the
wolves feed on the sheep without mercy." "But then there is the
sheepdog. The sheepdog lives to protect the flock and confront the
wolf." “The sheep generally don’t
like the sheepdog. He looks a lot like the wolf. He has fangs and the
capacity for violence, just like the wolf. The difference is the sheepdog has
such a deep love for his fellow citizens that he cannot and will not ever
harm the sheep and he is willing to walk into the heart of darkness to
protect them.” “Still, the sheepdog
disturbs the sheep. He is a constant reminder that there are wolves in the
land. They would prefer that he didn't tell them where to go, or what to do,
or be seen constantly standing at the ready in his olive drab, or blue. The sheep would much rather have the
sheepdog cash in his fangs, spray paint himself white, and go, Baa." “Until the wolf shows up;
then the entire flock tries desperately to hide behind one lonely sheepdog.” Those are the words of
Colonel Grossman. We walk the warrior’s path;
wearing Army-Green in our youth and shades of blue through or adult
lives. We are here to tell you it is
not an esoteric concept, but a way of life.
It has been our privilege and our personal mission to serve as your
sheepdogs for the years you have spent at D-Y. Whether someone has elected to
become a member of the thin blue line, the long gray line or a line flecked
in digital pattern camouflage, that person has decided to walk the warrior’s
path. It is a difficult path that is often misunderstood by those who have
not traveled it. It is a path of discipline,
a path of service, a path truth, a path of deep camaraderie and in the end it
is a path of honor and one well worth walking. Now these two old soldiers
would like to present to you the next generation of sheepdogs from the Class
of 2006, each has confirmed orders to report for basic training in their
respective service. They will receive
a plaque, which reads: “Presented on behalf of a grateful
community with respect and pride on your enlistment in the And a quote by Thomas
Jefferson: “The price of
freedom is eternal vigilance” Enlisted in the Stephen Collucci Enlisted in Nicholas Ciocca Enlisted in Hayden Knott Accepted to the Kyle Sullivan Enlisted in United States
Marine Corp Andrew Coville Benjamin Hudson James Soares John Tibbits Jason Woodland Thank you. |
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