Veterans Day Celebrated at BSoR

On Tuesday November 11, a brisk sunny day with gusting winds rippling the American flags on hand, BSoR celebrated Veterans Day. In what has become a major day on the BSoR calendar, both intimate and school wide events are built into a special schedule for the day, ensuring that Veterans Day is duly honored and that our students learn about the lives of service, discipline and sacrifice each of these veterans have carried out. 

This year 30 veterans attended to share their experiences and be appreciated by our students. Keynote speeches were delivered by Saint Gertrude alumnus Colonel Kelly Howard ‘’98 and BSoR father Lieutenant Colonel Doug Massie. The day is also a chance to take note of the 10 members of our faculty, staff and administration who have served with honor. In addition to what happened on our campus, BCP Color Guard details and Pipe & Drum Band details were invited to participate in four events throughout the Richmond area, to honor the veterans in our community. Commandant MAJ Richard Ramos accepts as many of these invitations as possible and coordinates the groups of cadets to represent our school, and serve the community, with pride. 

The special activities began at each school with an opportunity for students to have lunch with a veteran. Students signed up to go to various classrooms and locations at the school, so that each gathering was intimate and meaningful. Many of the veterans have close ties to our schools, making the gatherings even more special. 

At Saint Gertrude, in one classroom, Hope L. Bean, grandmother of Taiamoni Halafihi ’27, a pioneering leader in Army logistics, was joined by Ms. Smith, who served in the 82nd Airborne Division of the Army. In another classroom, Clara Stribling ’27 was proud to introduce her grandfather Lieutenant Colonel Miller, who served in the US Marine Corps from 1971-1995 as an artillery officer. In that same classroom, Mercy Grapes ’26 proudly introduced her father, BSoR President COL Jesse Grapes US Marine Corps, who signed up for the Marines the day after 9/11, had three tours of duty in Iraq, and received both a Bronze Star for valor and a Purple Heart for wounds received in combat. Down the hall, Josie Mann ’27 proudly introduced both of her parents. Her mother is an Army spouse and Air Force mom, as well as being on the Veterans Advisory Board. Her father retired after 20 years as a Blackhawk helicopter mechanic, pilot, and instructor pilot in the Virginia Army National Guard. He deployed to Bosnia and twice to Iraq. 

Elsewhere, Ella Massie ’26 introduced Mrs. Leslie, who graduated from Saint Gertrude in 1981 and the Naval Academy in 1985, and who retired from the Navy in 2017 as a 2-Star Rear Admiral. Mrs. Leslie currently serves as President of the BSoR Foundation Board. Erin Hooper ’27 had the honor of introducing keynote speaker COL Kelly Howard ’98 US Army, in the classroom. 

Reflecting on what COL Howard shared over lunch, Ella commented, “During my Lunch with a Veteran, I had the opportunity to sit and talk with Colonel Howard…She was super personable and had a warming presence. Additionally, when we asked her if there was anything that she missed from home while being deployed, she said that physical touch was something her body had missed most. She noted that she had good relationships with the other soldiers but really missed receiving hugs from her family. This was a simple but meaningful answer that allowed us to reflect upon the volume of sacrifice that those who serve our country make.”

Mady D’Onofrio ’27 expressed pride in her grandfather Mr. Juskiewicz, who also shared lunch with Saint Gertrude students. He enlisted in the Army in 1968, served in Vietnam and was involved in artillery intelligence operations. “A shoutout to my personal hero,” she stated with enthusiam. “My Papa, who served in the Vietnam War and was awarded a Bronze Star and Purple Heart!” (He is the father of SGHS teacher Robyn D’Onofrio.) In the same classroom, Harper Lewis ’26 beamed at her own grandfather, Mr. Blankenship, who served as a Combat Infantryman in Vietnam in 1970, and while there also served as a Scout Dog Handler.

Finally, in Room 206, there was a panel of three more veterans. Mr. Taylor, grandfather to Mary Grace Taylor ’26, served in the Marine Corps 1962-66 and was deployed to Okinawa for a year, utlizing his skills as a cartographer to protect his troops. Ms. Spence went into the Air Force after pharmacy school and was an active duty Air Force Captain pharmacist at Bolling Air Force Base in Washington, DC. Rounding off the trio was Saint Gertrude teacher Scott Seal. Petty Officer Seal enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 2007, serving six years a foreign language specialist, after graduating first in his class from the Russian Basic Course at the Defense Language Institute. 

Over at Benedictine, experiences, memories and life lessons were also shared over lunch. COL Buddy Deverell III BCP '60 US Army & BCP Commandant MAJ Richard Ramos US Army were in one classroom, while next door BCP parent CPT Geoff Gasperini US Army & BCP teacher CPT Mike Forster US Army held forth for about 20 cadets in the Boardroom. In classroom 206, SGT Jim Belcher US Air Force & Dean of Students SSGT Bryan Greene US National Guard offered insights about their experiences. 

In the library about 30 cadets learned from a five member panel of veterans composed of several BCP parents and one faculty member. BCP parent CPT Matthew Palmisano US Army, BCP parent SFC Antonio Jackson US Army, CPT Eric Field US Army, BCP teacher SGT AJ Parson US Marine Corps and BCP parent SPC Troy Moore US Army each offered pearls of wisdom spanning topics from brotherhood, camaraderie and discipline to the importance of faith. They discussed making good use of one’s downtime, networking with fellow service members regarding job opportunities, and controlling your emotions. SFC Jackson at one point spoke of the importance of “staying on task,” while SPC Moore advised cadets to “use the tools that are given to you,” but realize that “you can’t do it alone – get a mentor, be a mentor, communicate.” All the panel members attested that the cadets, steeled in the traditions and training of Benedictine, already have a “leg up” on other high school students, and that “the values you learn here are going to carry over.” SPC Moore reminded them to remember “you are blessed.” SFC Jackson nodded his head solemnly, adding “Very blessed.”

More fruitful conversations occurred elsewhere. In other classrooms were LT Luke Sykes BCP '17 US Navy and SPC James Pickral US Army (Spouse of Saint Gertrude Head of School Amy Pickral ’95 and father to two Saint Gertrude graduates), LT Austin Hague BCP '13 US Navy, LT Dean Ngendakuriyo BCP ’17 US Army, SFC Zach Harrison BCP '97 US Army, and BCP TAC Officer LT Brad Lafontaine US Navy. The Fogarty Lounge housed BCP parent SOC Marty Foldes US Navy & BCP teacher CPT David Yost  US Army. In classroom 106 keynote speaker LTC Douglas Massie US Army was joined by BCP TAC Officer CPT Patrick Gresosky  US Army. Upstairs were BCP Head of School CPT Greg Lilly US Marine Corps and three BCP parents: SGT Chad Kincaid US Marine Corps, SSGT Taylor Flowers US Marine Corps and SGT Matthew Regensberg BCP ‘03 US Marine Corps.

Following the “Lunch with a Veteran” program, students from each school went to see a keynote speaker. For Saint Gertrude students, the speaker was a decorated alumnus, Colonel Kelly Howard ’98. In her introduction, Head of School Amy Pickral ’95 offered this overview: “Colonel Howard graduated from Saint Gertrude High School in 1998 and the United States Military Academy at West Point in 2002. She has served more than 23 years in the Army, including two deployments to Iraq. Her military awards include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Combat Action Badge, and Air Assault Badge.” 

Pickral continued to note that, “From 2012 to 2022, Kelly directed the Veterans Health Administration’s Whole Health Education program, training more than 100,000 leaders, clinicians, and Veteran coaches to help shift the VA from disease-focused to well-being-centered care. She lives in Richmond with her two daughters, Peyton and Rowan, who attend St. Michael’s School.” Mady D’Onofrio ’27 was grateful to hear from such an accomplished and service-oriented leader, one who lives her values and seeks out challenges. “I had the honor to listen to the SGHS speaker this year,” Mady said, “and she was amazing! She was able to relate to us how she always looked for a push in her life, and that what the military schools do and offer is exactly what she was looking for!”

For the Cadets, the keynote speaker was Lieutenant Colonel Douglas Massie. After a detailed introduction, Benedictine Head of School Greg Lilly summed up Massie as “a great example of a soldier – and a man.” On his way to becoming a Lieutenant Colonel, Massie graduated from VMI, Airborne School, Ranger School, Sapper School, and the Advanced Airborne Jumpmaster Course. He has received a Bronze Star with two oak leaf clusters and a host of other medals. In 2003 he deployed to Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, later deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom, and returned to Iraq in 2019 to protect the US Embassy there as part of the Global Response Force mission. He is married to Ann Marie Abbott Massie ’97 (BSoR Director of Alumni), and their children Ella ’26 and Henry ’29 both attended his address.

Massie, in an engaging and touching presentation, which included videos of his beloved airborne divisions in action, shared various things about himself. “At 12, I knew I wanted to be a paratrooper,” he related. He feels his blessed life in the Army is an example of a “passion that turned into opportunity.” He advised the cadets that “this right here is where leaders are born and forged,” and noted that “our country needs you to be leaders.” He confessed that he “really misses his paratroopers,” and advised the cadets to be grateful for their brotherhood and camaraderie, noting its immense value to him since his days at Fork Union Military Academy and VMI. Towards the end, he counseled that “veterans come in every shape and form.” If you see a veteran, he suggested, “walk up to them, shake someone’s hand, maybe learn their story.”

In thanking LTC Massie for his time and guidance, Lilly reminded the cadets that “today was an opportunity to meet people who have served their country, and put their lives on the line, so you could be in this school.” About Massie, Lilly concluded, “He’s a warrior. He’s a patriot. But more importantly, he’s a great husband and father.” Lilly advised the cadets to aspire to be like him in those ways, too. “I hope some of you will follow his path into the military.” It’s a path, he said, that offers more than great opportunities: “It’s exhilarating.”

The day’s festivities were capped on the Parade Deck. The Corps of Cadets performed a Pass in Review for the veterans, community members and students gathered, The Pipes and Drums performed a medley of the Armed Forces’ anthems, a list of alumni who have died in service to our country was read aloud, and an honorary wreath was dedicated in tribute to those who have served in our Armed Forces. For the students of Saint Gertrude and Benedictine, whenever the most meaningful moment came, Veterans Day 2025 will be a day they will long remember.

To view a gallery of photos from Veterans Day 2025 in Green Galleries Click Here