StM News

On Monday, November 10, eighth grade students at St. Martin’s Episcopal School culminated weeks of collaborative work in their English and history classes with a moving Veterans Day Assembly honoring those who have served our country.

In preparation for the event, each student identified a veteran—whether a family member, friend, or someone they met through this project—and conducted an interview to learn about that individual’s experiences in military service. Through research and conversation, students explored their veteran’s branch of service, rank, time period, and deployments. They crafted thoughtful interview questions, transcribed responses, and wrote personal reflections on the experience of hearing firsthand stories of service, sacrifice, and courage.

To deepen their understanding, students created multi-genre projects showcasing their learning and gratitude. The resulting work included poetry, watercolor paintings, brochures, timelines, dioramas, journal entries, jewelry, and other creative tributes—each a heartfelt expression of appreciation for the men and women who have served.

These projects were displayed in the Solomon Theater lobby during and after the school’s second annual Veterans Day Assembly, which was planned and led entirely by the eighth grade class. The program featured guest speaker Lt. Col. Andy Chrestman ’98, USMC, who shared his reflections on service and leadership as a St. Martin’s alumnus and veteran. He told students that he thought back to his own days as a St. Martin’s student and wanted to leave them with the advice he would have given his younger self: be kind, embrace failure, and begin serving others now. His message of humility, resilience, and purpose resonated deeply with students and faculty alike.

This project also connected meaningfully with St. Martin’s Day’s letter-writing initiative, through which students send messages of encouragement and gratitude to active-duty service members. Together, these efforts exemplified St. Martin’s mission of Faith, Scholarship, and Service and reflected our Episcopal tradition of honoring others through learning, reflection, and compassion.