Col. Hermès Speaks to Students about Service on the Heels of Veterans Day

The lower school was transformed into a sea of red, white and blue as our youngest learners celebrated Veterans Day and learned the importance of service from current parent Col. Gabrielle Hermès.

The student-only assembly was organized by Lower and Middle School Counselor Pannill Titus and began with the presentation of colors by seniors Briggs M. ’22 and Kendall ’22 followed by the singing of the national anthem by Gabby G. ’22.

Col. Hermès, mother to Sophia '34, then spoke to students about the importance of service and why it’s important to serve others. Col. Hermès has spent 26 years serving the United States, first in the Air Force and then in the Marines. Her career has taken her throughout the United States, Europe, Africa, the Asian-Pacific region and the Middle East.

Her favorite part of being a Marine has been helping others. For example, she has aided people in Turkey after an earthquake and assisted refugees in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“I like to take care of people and that’s why I stayed,” she said to students about her job. “My job is kind of like a principal. My job is to keep them (the servicemen and women under her command) safe and to protect our freedoms.”

Throughout her world travels, she has also worked on developing her Marines to be better citizens, to which she spoke to the students about how they can be better citizens, whether it’s helping in community service or simply serving others.

“How do we honor our veterans?” she asked the students. “To serve and be good citizens.”
 
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