A West Hartford family donated a new flag to Conard High School, and the community held a dedication as part of its Veterans Day commemoration.

Veterans Day ceremony at Conard High School. Nov. 11, 2025. Photo credit: Jennifer Schlichting

By Jade Werblow. Photos by Jennifer Schlichting

Conard hosted a one-of-a-kind experience on Tuesday, Nov. 11 – a Veterans Day celebration featuring the addition of a new American flagpole along Beechwood Road, near McKee Stadium.

The flag was donated by a Conard family, as they celebrated and acknowledged the school’s role in protecting the country, as well as describing the many people who have contributed to this achievement. The ceremony, held at the new flagpole, took place from 9 to 10 a.m. 

The event included a welcome from Conard Principal Jocelyn Tamborello-Noble, who said, “We are so grateful to have so many members of our community here with us today. New students, families, faculties, and staff, honored guests, and especially all of our veterans.”

Veterans Day ceremony at Conard High School. Nov. 11, 2025. Photo credit: Jennifer Schlichting

In the midst of the flag-raising ceremony, as the flag was being raised, Conard senior Bridget Dawson performed the National Anthem. There was also a powerful speech by the Tracy family, who had donated the new flag in commemoration of the role of Conard’s enlisted students in the military, and its personal impact on the family.

The purpose of the ceremony was to not only honor Conard’s veterans, but also to give emphasis and remembrance to the lives lost in battle. The donation by the Tracy family provided a personal act of recognition to this cause, as many members of the family have served in the military.

To finalize the ceremony, the names of all of Conard’s students and teachers who have been involved in the protection of the country were stated by attending students, and a breakfast was hosted inside the school for the veterans in attendance to the event. Guests included Superintendent of Schools Paul Vicinus, who is retired from the U.S. Army and currently Command Sergeant Major of the Connecticut Army National Guard, and Elaine Kotler of the American Legion Hayes-Velhage Post 96 Auxiliary.

The presence of the veterans demonstrated the commitment to “remembering and honoring those who have dedicated themselves to serve our nation,” Tamborello-Noble said. 

Although the weather Tuesday morning was cold, the ceremony provided a warmth for its participants and viewers. The community of students, teachers, alumni and veterans all came together to create a meaningful and remarkable event. 

Veterans Day ceremony at Conard High School. Nov. 11, 2025. Photo credit: Jennifer Schlichting

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