"During this service at Gilman, we seek to do two things. Both have to do with honoring those who have gone before us," said Head of School Henry P. A. Smyth in his opening remarks at the 2023 Memorial Day Convocation held on Tuesday, May 23. "First, as the day was intended, we want to pay tribute to those people who have given their lives in the military service of our country. The second thing this ceremony allows us to do is to remember those people in the Gilman community who have passed away in the last year. So, this is a time to reflect on the value of life and the honor of service."

Presented on Brown Field with attendees from all three divisions in the stands of Sotir Stadium, this year's gathering featured the following:

• An invocation and benediction by Dr. John Mojzisek
• The presentation and raising of the flag of the United States by Middle School students Dami K. and Colter M.
• The recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance led by Lower School students Mason M. Rayan B., and Thapelo S.
• The reading of names of those in the Gilman community lost in the past year by Toby Broadus III '86, Bill Gamper '71, Rob Heubeck, and Jim Morrison
• 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 Austin Lansey '24 and Peter Lander

"The service men 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," said Head of School Smyth toward the end of his remarks. "In our own, perhaps much smaller ways, we too can make our own contributions to the greater good."

View the 2023 Memorial Day Tribute Video

View a Recording of the 2023 Memorial Day Convocation