Sedona Red Rock High School’s student council hosted its inaugural Veterans Day assembly on Nov. 10.
Around 200 students gathered in the Sedona Performing Arts Center to hear from eight U.S. Marines. The Veterans Day panel hosted seven retired U.S. Marines, including SRRHS’ own math teacher, James Vogler, along with an active-duty Marine, 2021 SRRHS alumnus Jaiah Grondin.
With the district’s support, the event was entirely student led and organized. Junior Hunter White, student council treasurer and Sedona-Oak Creek School District Governing Board member, headed up the event and served as host for the assembly. The seven retired Marines are a part of Verde Valley Detachment No. 1176 Marine Corps League, based in Cottonwood and Camp Verde.
“I have been a part of this community and this district for a long time, and we have never had a Veterans Day event at this school,” White said. “We felt it was time for a new tradition here, in honor of not only the Marine Corps, but of every [military] branch for Veterans Day.”
After the panel was honored with the presentation of the flags, Major Tony Williams, Master Sgt. Rod Consalvo and Pvt. Jaiah Grondin all had the opportunity to share their stories. Then students were given the chance to ask the whole panel questions. The panel included Jerry “Geronimo” Martin, David Murphy, James Vogler, Keith Vogler and Mike Noble.
Grondin, who left for boot camp this past July, shared his training experiences over the past four months. His desire to go into the Marines began when he was in the sixth-grade, so before he even graduated, Grondin signed the dotted line to serve as a Marine.
“You learn a lot of great things about yourself,” Grondin said. “You learn discipline. You learn how to work as a team.”
Grondin was greeted with rounds of applause and cheering by his former classmates. After completing boot camp in October, Grondin left for infantry school on Nov. 13, but said he was thankful to be back home for Veterans Day.
Martin, a member of the National Speakers Convention, was also a key speaker during the 45-minute assembly. Great-great-grandson of the famous Apache leader Geronimo, Martin shared his journey as an E4 Marine in the Vietnam War.
“When you say ‘thank you for your service,’ what I say in return is, ‘thank you, you are worth it,” Martin said.
White said that he was happy with the success of the assembly. As next school year’s student body president, he plans on continuing this new Veterans Day tradition.
