FCS Cadets Lead Fourth Annual Veterans Day Celebration

The field in front of the Fulton County Schools Administrative Center was quiet in the late-morning light as JROTC cadets from several high schools assembled for the district’s 11:11 a.m. Veterans Day observance. Their uniforms were neatly pressed and their formation precise, creating a dignified setting for employees who gathered to honor the veterans among their colleagues.

The cadets led the ceremony with poise, speaking about service and sharing their own aspirations as they honored each branch of the United States Armed Forces: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Space Force, and Coast Guard. In their confidence and composure, one could see both the pride of the moment and the promise of the years ahead. They stood not only as students but as emerging leaders of our community and our country.

The ceremony concluded with reflections from Dr. Jason Dickinson of Veterans on the River and Dr. Josiah Phillips, the district’s Chief of Strategy and Technology. Dr. Dickinson reminded the audience that while military service is significant, the call to serve does not end when active duty ends. Veterans continue to contribute in countless ways, as educators, mentors, neighbors, and community leaders. Their lives encourage each of us to serve with purpose wherever we are.

Dr. Phillips then shared a deeply personal account of his own service in the Army and the injuries he sustained while deployed in Afghanistan. He spoke quietly and without embellishment about the long journey of recovery, about learning to walk again one careful step at a time, and about the discipline and patience that required. His message to the cadets was not dramatic but profoundly human: progress is built one step at a time, and those steps, however small, still move us forward toward the lives we hope to build.

Each year, Fulton County Schools takes time to honor those who have served in the armed forces, as well as those who continue to serve today. We are grateful for their courage, their commitment, and the example they set for all of us. We thank them for their service.

FCS JROTC Director Todd Powers, Dr. Jason Dickinson, Dr. Josiah Phillips, FCS Board President Kristin McCabe, and FCS Assistant Army Instructor Bryan Elder.