A performance by the Chamber Choir and an alumni guest speaker highlighted Shady Side Academy Senior School's annual Veterans Day Assembly on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018.

The Chamber Choir, directed by Dr. Dan Brill, opened the assembly with a beautiful performance of Until All of Us Are Free, a song inspired by the Emma Lazarus quote "Until all of us are free, we are none of us free."

After the song, SSA alumnus and retired U.S. Navy captain Byron King '73 spoke to the student body about the history and importance of Veterans Day and of honoring those who have served our country. King, a lifer who attended SSA from grades K-12, served 30 years in the Navy, including nine years of active duty with several overseas deployments and 11 years in the reserves. He holds a bachelor's degree in geological sciences from Harvard University, a J.D. from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, and a graduate diploma from the Naval War College. An expert on gold and mining who has advised the U.S. Department of Defense on national energy policy, he currently edits the Rickards Gold Speculator With Byron King newsletter for Agora Financial. Senior Drew Sveda introduced King.

To all of our veterans, thank you for your service!

View the Veterans Day assembly highlight video: