Honoring Our Heroes: Canterbury’s Veterans Day Assembly

The program was filled with pride and gratitude as our Upper School Band performed the service songs of each military branch, inviting Veterans and Active Duty members in attendance to stand and be recognized during their anthem. The moving tribute continued with a special slideshow celebrating Canterbury family and community members who have served, displayed during the assembly and on screens throughout campus.

This year’s featured speaker, Greg Blurton P’35, a proud veteran of the United States Air Force, shared his inspiring story of service with the 40th Flight Test Squadron at Eglin AFB, FL, where he maintained avionics and electronic systems for F-15 and F-111 fighter jets. During his time in the Air Force, Mr. Blurton earned numerous honors, including graduating first in his class at Electronics/Avionics Technical School and being named the 1995 Maintenance Professional of the Year for Eglin AFB’s 46th Test Wing. 
 

Blending humor, humility, and heartfelt reflection, Mr. Blurton opened with an icebreaker, “What happened to the Air Force guy who tried public speaking? He bombed!” before sharing how his path to military service was shaped by a long family legacy of dedication and sacrifice. From growing up as a self-described “military brat” to enlisting at 19, he reflected on lessons of discipline, precision, and perseverance learned through basic training and beyond.

Throughout his remarks, Mr. Blurton encouraged students to value the qualities that transcend military life, such as punctuality, consistency, and attention to detail, and to carry them into all they do. He also shared three guiding principles that have continued to shape his life: 

• You are always being interviewed – a reminder that character and attitude are always on display.

• It’s who you know – the importance of building and nurturing meaningful relationships.

• Attitude is everything – a reflection on how our mindset defines how we experience and overcome life’s challenges.

In closing, Mr. Blurton paid tribute to the mentors who shaped his journey, especially his late father, also an Air Force veteran, and expressed deep gratitude for all who serve and for the families who support them.

Following the assembly, our Veterans and Active Duty guests were greeted with cheers and flag-waving smiles during a special Spirit Walk, a joyful and touching show of appreciation from our youngest Cougars. The morning concluded with a reception in our Entech Launch Pad, where Veterans gathered to enjoy refreshments, conversation, and heartfelt thanks from members of the Canterbury community.

It was a beautiful day of reflection, unity, and gratitude as we celebrated the true meaning of service and sacrifice.

Thank you, Veterans, for your courage, your commitment, and your example. We are forever grateful. 💙

👉 View a photo gallery and highlights from the assembly!

🎥 WATCH the full program here, thanks to Cougar Vision.