By Wendy Berger-Wood

On Sept. 26, Aloha High School in Beaverton, Ore., hosted a Military Appreciation Night to honor servicemembers past, present and future. The state’s first-of-its-kind event was the result of a collaboration with a high school principal and an Oregon National Guard staff sergeant.

Aloha High School Principal Matthew Casteel, a retired Army Green Beret, and Staff Sgt. Anna Mendoza of the Oregon National Guard, along with veterans from American Legion Department of Oregon District 1 and other veteran organizations, were instrumental in bringing the tribute to fruition. They wanted the community to see that there are veterans among them during every facet of everyday life. By supporting Aloha High School’s Military Appreciation Night, the purpose was to give thanks to servicemembers past, present and future, and to showcase Aloha High School and Washington County as the place to be for veterans and future servicemembers.

Their mission for the evening: To unite all veterans of Washington County.

Prior to the start of the game, five members of American Legion Tigard Post 158’s Legion Riders and one Patriot Guard rode two laps of the track that encircles the Aloha Warriors’ football field. Along with the Riders of Post 158, Legion members from Forest Grove Post 2 and Aloha Post 104 were present. At half time a call was put out to the audience that if any military veterans in attendance would like to walk onto the field during the halftime ceremony to please feel free to join in by gathering at the field’s east end zone. The response from those veterans was inspiring. The response from the audience was heartwarming.

An abbreviated ceremonial Passing of the Guidon was conducted during a half-time presentation. At the start of the half-time show, a team of students filed onto the field; each one holding a US flag. As the guidon bearers and recruits led the way onto the field, the assembled veterans were then asked to walk single file onto the field and form a half circle behind the guidon bearers. At the conclusion of the ceremony, all participants were told to “fall out”, out which time they returned to the end zone for a group picture.

Under Casteel’s watch, Aloha High School’s Military Appreciation Night will be an annual event.