El Dorado High School

Veteran’s Day Ceremony

A Youth-Led Veteran’s Appreciation Event

 
 

This event started in 2013 when the Fallen Heroes Memorial was constructed and unveiled to the families of El Dorado High School’s 3 Fallen alumni as an Eagle Scout project by Andrew Binnings (carrying flag above).  


This event was the first time all three families were together and marked their introduction to each other.  Immediately after the private unveiling, the memorial was introduced to the community in a public Veteran’s Day ceremony.  The ceremony created a strong connection between the families, the community, our veterans and the school.  During the ceremony, the school announced this event would be held on an annual basis as a way to remember and recognize not only the 3 Fallen Heroes from El Dorado, but all Veterans that have served in our armed forces.


This ceremony continues to be a scout-led, youth supported event.  All Veterans are invited to attend on Veteran’s Day and participate in the ceremony’s ‘Roll Call’.


Guest speakers or participants have included USMC Col Andrew Murray, USMC Col Roberta Shea, USMC Col J.R. Clearfield, COL Fridrik Fridriksson, USAF COL Henry Pandes, USMC-Ret Major Bruce Banigan, Marine One pilot for President Reagan and President Bush, Mayor Scott Nelson, US Representative Ed Royce, Placentia Police Chief Darrin Lenyi, Singing group The Alley Cats, El Dorado High School Choir and The Patriot Guards.


Ed Royce and his office participated in 2014 thru 2016.  In 2014 they presented 3 flags flown over Congress to the Fallen Hero families, a new Congressional-flown flag for the Memorial (carried in picture above).  In 2015 and 2016, Representative Ed Royce returned as a guest speaker.

 

Scouts lead Veterans to the Fallen Heroes Memorial