West Hartford’s Hall High School community created a special tribute for Veterans Day.

Veterans Day 2025 at Hall High School. Photo credit Maddie Geraghty

By Maddie Geraghty and Hadley Smith 

On Veterans Day 2025, Hall’s Careers in Foods class allocated their day to preparing lunch for the veterans in their community. The choir and orchestra spent months preparing songs, learning the Armed Forces Tribute as well as the branch anthems.

This heartfelt celebration honored the veterans in our Hall and West Hartford family. To honor those who served, a buffet style lunch was prepared and served on Tuesday, Nov. 11, with pulled chicken patties and mac and cheese being the main course. Veterans sat and shared stories of their time serving while they ate. All bonded over the amazing food.

Veterans Day 2025 at Hall High School. Photo credit Maddie Geraghty

Vice principals and members of the Hall staff were able to chat with the veterans about their experiences and how much this day means to them. Speaking with a few of them, some noted how they are grateful the students have school today so they can learn more about the military and see people from the community come in.

Veterans Day 2025 at Hall High School. Photo credit Maddie Geraghty

Board of Education member LaToya Yagaloff is the mother of a Hall student and is also a veteran. She shared that she thinks, “our schools literally reflect our community” in terms of all the people working within them. The schools are so diverse and all have their own stories. The consensus seemed to be that it’s great to have the kids in school on Veterans Day to see that in action.

Veterans Day 2025 at Hall High School. Photo credit Maddie Geraghty

Other veterans touched on how it is a great feeling to be recognized for the time that they put in. Jonathan Coss who spoke earlier at King Philip Middle School inspired the students, telling them that service doesn’t have to be through the first responders and military, but through just being a leader and helping your friends out day to day.

With around 20 veterans filling up Hall’s auditorium alongside students and teachers, the stage was set for a performance. The veterans visiting Hall got to experience orchestral pieces such as Armed Forces Tribute, Le Grand Cahier, and Prelude. Heartfelt speeches were given by office staff, including Principal Sarah Isaacs, who spoke on the significance of veterans and why Hall is determined to continue honoring them in as many ways as they can in the community.

Veterans Day 2025 at Hall High School. Photo credit Maddie Geraghty

The West Hartford community retains many special tributes to veterans across the town, such as the memorial in the Center. But at Hall, they wanted to give the gift of music to the veterans this year to symbolize the beauty, difficulty, and unity that being a veteran means.

Students after the concert approached veterans to hear about their stories and experiences, even getting to meet active service members to find out more about opportunities in the armed forces in our current age.

“Even though I’ve never considered military service myself, I want to see more support and contributions like this for veterans, because without them, our America wouldn’t be the same,” one student noted after becoming acquainted with a veteran outside of the auditorium.

Veterans Day 2025 at Hall High School. Photo credit Maddie Geraghty

Rarely do veterans experience the notoriety they deserve, and Hall has made an effort to see that every Veterans Day, they wish to continue the tradition of honoring veterans in their own special ways. Students outside of the Hall have also expressed similar frustration surrounding veteran support and have been seen making contributions diversely throughout our community.

Speaking with a veteran after the performance, he explained that he had “been given a rock with the symbol of the Navy painted on its front.” He even pulled out such a gift from his coat pocket to show those interested. “The smallest acts of consideration are always appreciated and of value.”

“Touched” was the emotion of the veterans when they left the concert, and likewise, the musicians, officers, students, and community of Hall felt the same. 

Veterans Day 2025 at Hall High School. Photo credit Maddie Geraghty

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