Immaculate High School honored those who have sacrificed their lives for us at a Veterans Day Tribute. The patriotic ceremony included distinguished alumni veterans, City of Danbury Mayor Dean Esposito, Commissioner of Veteran Affairs, Tom Saadi, Colonel Andy Morgado and student performers.
Visitors to the event were greeted by the school’s Veterans Hill of Honor on its front lawn. Members of the Immaculate community purchased flags with yellow ribbons recognizing a veteran special to them by name. Proceeds of $1500 were presented to Commissioner Saadi to support the Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs.
The Immaculate Inspire Choir sang the National Anthem and President Mary Maloney welcomed guests, followed by a prayer by Chaplain Father Philip Phan. Guest Speaker Honorable Dean Esposito, Mayor of Danbury, told students, “Every day, believe it or not, there’s a new veteran – those that are fighting for us right now for our freedoms.”
Thomas Saadi (‘88), the Connecticut Commissioner of Veterans Affairs and Anthony Morgado (‘90) a Colonel in the United States Army, two Immaculate alumni veterans, headlined the program:
“While we must always remember and thank our veterans and service members, that’s not enough,” said Commissioner Saadi, a graduate of Western Connecticut State University and Quinnipiac College School of Law before receiving several commendations in the United States Army. “As a society, our words must be matched with actions that support our veterans and service members – and that’s exactly what Immaculate High School has been doing for several years through donations to the Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs.”
Colonel Morgado, who has 28 years of service in the United States Army, credited Immaculate for making him the man and leader he is today. “I must say my time here at Immaculate was the most consequential of my life,” he told the audience. ”The time I spent here at Immaculate has prepared me for the rigors and the foundation of my success – both personally and professionally.”
Both speakers urged students to thank veterans for the freedoms they enjoy – including the right to vote, to speak freely and to attend school. Immaculate’s Concert Band performed during the ceremony and ended with a patriotic John Philip Sousa song.
The ceremony closed with a moment of silence, the playing of Taps, a presentation of gifts to the veterans present and a flag-raising outside the school as the Inspire Choir sang America the Beautiful.
Immaculate High School is a private, non-profit Catholic college-preparatory institution serving students from 28 communities in Connecticut and New York. A continued commitment to our 60-year tradition of being a value-based, student-centric, outcomes focused Catholic high school, has driven our rising trajectory as evidenced by the 2022 Niche A+, Best Schools ranking.
