"In so many ways, our paths and circumstances are shaped by those who were here before us. So this is a moment of reflection," said Headmaster Henry P. A. Smyth in his opening remarks at Gilman School's 2022 Memorial Day Convocation held Tuesday, May 24. "This is a time to pay our respects to all of those people who, by serving the greater good, have helped to shape our country and our School. As we do so, let us honor their lives by committing ourselves to building an even better country and School. That way, their many contributions will have been worthwhile."

Due to weather, the 2022 Memorial Day Convocation was held in Centennial Hall and livestreamed to each division. The event featured the following:

• An invocation and benediction by John Mojzisek
• The presentation of the flag of the United States by Middle School students Jeremy M. and Mac B.
• The recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance by Lower School students Otto S., Luke B., and RJ J.
• The reading of names of those in the Gilman community lost in the past year by Johnnie Foreman, James Kraft, and Shanthi Kumar
• Performances of "The Star-Spangled Banner" and the School hymn, "O God, Our Help in Ages Past," by the Traveling Men
• The playing of "Taps" on trumpet by Morgan Fanyo-Tabak '23 and Austin Lansey '24

"Building a better community — whether they are nations, towns, neighborhoods, or schools — often entails giving up some of yourself for the common good," said Headmaster Smyth toward the end of his remarks. "The servicemen and women we honor on Memorial Day are perhaps the most extreme example of making sacrifices in the name of serving something larger than ourselves, but we ask you all the time to think about how you can put others before yourselves. In our own, perhaps much smaller, ways, we too can make our own contributions to the greater good."

View the 2022 Memorial Day Tribute Video

View a Recording of the 2022 Memorial Day Convocation