On November 11, Mundelein High School held a Veterans Day panel in the auditorium. Seven military personnel, including Col. Paul Hettich, Staff Sgt. Lesley Camarema, Tom Myers, Marie Honeywell, Sgt. Eric Ricot, WO Lee Lopez, and MHS Student Resource Officer Israel Hernandez, shared their experiences with students.
Director of Teaching and Learning Stacey Gorman, an organizer of the event, said this is the first time MHS has hosted a panel discussion of this kind. “For many years, we have held a Veterans Day breakfast for veterans in our community, and the panel was introduced as an extension of that event.”
Gorman also stated that honoring veterans with a breakfast was a long-standing tradition, but the panel idea was developed to allow students to learn about the individual stories of the men and women who served and still serve in the armed forces.
“Students gained a deeper understanding of veterans’ service, the realities of military life, and the sacrifices made to protect the freedoms we value,” Gorman said. She further explained that they had thoughtfully-prepared questions that led to thoughtful engagement with the veterans and also exposed them to what the military can offer to them if they choose to join.
Veterans were chosen based on the various experiences they had. Panelists included individuals who served in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Vietnam, as well as veterans who served in high schools as recruiters or provided medical support during COVID.
Gorman stated that although the panel is a first for the school, she sees it as strengthening Veterans Day breakfast tradition by “bringing students and veterans together in a more interactive way.”
The panel was hosted by Mundelein High School Student Resource Officer Israel Hernandez. Hernandez was chosen to host the panel because of both his experiences as a combat medic in Iraq and Afghanistan and his ability to bridge the gap between the servicemen and the students of MHS.
“I think that whoever is hosting it, it’s good that they’re a veteran themselves so that they can relate and understand,” Hernandez said.
“I always tell people when it comes to veterans the way to honor them is to thank them for their service and maybe get a little bit of background of the time of their service,” Hernandez stated. “I did eight years in the military, [and] I always thank those who came before me.”
Hernandez also has advice for people who want to get into the military. He shared that serving your country is “something you really have to want to do. There’s so much blood, sweat, and tears that go into it. It’s a hard thing that takes a lot of work and dedication. You really have to want to serve, and you have to understand that once you’re in, country comes before personal things.”
The panel was a smashing success. This opportunity was a great one for both veterans to share their experiences with the youth and the students to learn about what it means to be a Veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces. We at MHS thank these brave men and women for their sacrifices and service.
