On Monday, November 10, Upper Schoolers gathered in Brauer Auditorium for our annual Veterans Day assembly to thank those who have faithfully served our country. Our Upper School choirs, led by US Choir Teacher Dana Self, sang the National Anthem, and then Head of School Jay Rainey welcomed the students and our distinguished guests.
He said, “Veterans Day, which is observed as a federal holiday today, was originally named Armistice Day to salute all honorably discharged military veterans of the United States Armed Forces. The first Armistice Day was established by President Woodrow Wilson in 1919 to commemorate the end of major World War I hostilities the prior year at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. Armistice Day was renamed Veterans Day in June 1954 through a law enacted by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. This change was proposed by a World War II veteran to expand the scope of the holiday to honor all veterans, not only those who served in World War I.”
Rainey asked all veterans to stand and be recognized, followed by the family members of those currently serving or who have served. He then introduced John Stupp ’68, our guest speaker.
After graduating from St. Louis Country Day School, John Stupp attended Lehigh University and was a four-year Army ROTC cadet. He graduated in 1972 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business & Economics. Simultaneously he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army and was assigned to the Military Intelligence Branch. He served two years on active duty as an Assistant Brigade Intelligence Officer in the Second Armored Division at Fort Hood, Texas.
Upon leaving the active army, Stupp began working at Stupp Bros. Bridge & Iron Company and shortly thereafter joined the 102nd Army Reserve Command in St. Louis. He served in a number of reserve positions over the next 19 years and retired as a Colonel from the U.S. Transportation Command (TRANSCOM) at Scott Air Force Base. His highest decoration was the Defense Meritorious Service Medal.
He also managed to serve Country Day School and then MICDS in a number of roles, such as CDS Alumni Association President, Board Member of CDS, then MICDS, Board Chair of MICDS from 1993-95, and Capital Campaign Chair, among others.
Stupp spoke to the stories, experiences, and connections that weave his military experience with his time at CDS and MICDS. Stupp said, “I was not a wartime veteran. I was never shot or shot at, but I put in my service to help prepare our country for what may arise. An important part of the MICDS mission is about leading lives of purpose and service. The military is the highest form of service one can do, and it teaches many essential skills like leadership, teamwork, and planning.”
He spoke of the history of Armistice Day, now Veterans Day. “It was much more than a ceasefire as it had conditions which Germany accepted. The Treaty of Versailles, which followed unfortunately, was the event that planted the seeds for WWII.”
Stupp centered his remarks on the profile of a citizen soldier, a person who serves in the military part-time, such as in the Reserves or National Guard, in addition to holding a civilian job. They train regularly but remain integrated in their communities as civilians, ready to be called for both state and national emergencies. Stupp comes from a long line of soldiers, citizen and otherwise, who worked on ironclad gunboats in St. Louis with Captain Eads, served in the 1918 Corps of Engineers, served in the Women’s Army Corps, served in France, Japan, and the South Pacific. He detailed his own experience as a reservist, helping to form reserve training units during Desert Storm in the early 1990s.
Stupp also connected students with areas on campus that serve as memorials to CDS community members lost in combat, such as the Donald Oonk drinking fountain in the McDonnell Gym Lobby, which displays a plaque with the names of CDS alumni who lost their lives in WWII. He mentioned several alumni who were involved in wartime events, such as the two who were held in captivity in North Korea during the 1968 Pueblo Incident and another who was a Green Beret during Vietnam. He noted one who was a Heisman trophy recipient who never forgot a phrase from his USMA football coach, “You’re not playing for yourselves, or team, or academy, you are playing for a million ghosts who fought for our country.”
He closed by encouraging students to consider serving in active or reserve military and said, “Please share with me your ongoing gratitude for those who have served us and are serving us today.”
Dalton Costick ’26 was the student speaker for the event, but was unable to attend. Senior Class Dean Daniel George relayed Dalton’s remarks in his absence.
I want to take a moment to share the story of one of our seniors, Dalton, and the extraordinary example set by his grandfather, Paul Inman, as we honor our veterans today.
Dalton’s grandfather, Paul, was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Army Reserve after graduating from the University of Missouri at Rolla with an engineering degree. He served two years on active duty, spending one year at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and another year in Vietnam as a Field Artillery Officer. While in Vietnam, he was a forward observer and an artillery battery executive officer, and his service earned him several medals, including the Purple Heart. After active duty, he continued to serve in the Army Reserve and National Guard for a total of 26 years, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel.
Through his grandfather, Dalton has learned lessons that go far beyond military service. He has gained a unique perspective on the world, paying careful attention to politics and global relations, especially as they affect veterans and how our country cares for them. His grandfather’s experiences have shaped his view on life, emphasizing the value of safety, the importance of protecting life, and the impact that small decisions can have on others. And they’ve shaped the way he approaches everyday tasks—planning thoughtfully, working efficiently, and handling setbacks with calm and patience.
Dalton sees in his grandfather a model of hard work, selflessness, and dedication, qualities that inspire him and remind us all of the sacrifices veterans have made for our country. While Dalton couldn’t be here today to speak himself, I am honored to share his grandfather’s story and the wisdom he has passed on.
Moreover, I see many of the traits of his grandfather in Dalton, and I am proud that he is a member of our MICDS community.
Thank you to all our veterans for your service and your example.
Student Council Co-Heads Carrie Clennan ’26 and Sean Hogan ’26 then read the names of distinguished alumni and faculty who gave what President Lincoln called the “last full measure of devotion” to their country. A full list of names and a brief description of our fallen heroes is available here.
To conclude, Mr. Rainey shared final remarks honoring those we have lost and those who have served, both in times of war and in times of peace.
The Upper School Choirs concluded the gathering by singing a medley of My Country ‘Tis of Thee and America the Beautiful. Special thanks go to Cliff Saxton ’64 and Peter Griffin ’69, our St. Louis Country Day School Archivists, for creating and displaying the history boards for the lobby of Brauer Auditorium before and after the assembly. Our students enjoyed learning more about the history of our School and its alumni.
Thank you, veterans, for your service.