This past November, the Belmont Hill Veterans Club hosted its second annual Veterans Day 5K Fun Run and Fundraiser. The club, founded by Tyler Smith ’26 and run by Tyler and Fitz Courtney ’26, was established last year to raise awareness about veterans and those who have served, and it works in conjunction with the Belmont Veterans Committee. After significant success last year, the team was looking forward to their second Veterans Day 5K, with the club members putting up signs all around campus, flyers in the shops in Belmont Center, and posts on Instagram for weeks prior to the event taking place.
Despite a lesser showing than the year before, due to an 8:00 AM start the morning after Halloween on a blustery, cold morning, more than a dozen kids were ready and prepped bright and early at 7:30 AM. As Chef Joshua Smith fired up the grill with several other private chefs who were helping make breakfast for those who volunteered, and everyone else who wanted to buy some. Soon, many more students came down to join in on the event, many students at the Summit Scholars meeting came down, and runners started to prepare for the race ahead.
Before the race began, Tyler and Colonel Callanan from the Belmont Veterans Committee made a speech to honor the men and women who have served or are currently serving.
Many families with younger siblings and parents attended the race, and after a decisive battle, Roger Zhang won the entire race, with Mr. George coming in 3rd place. After the race had finished, breakfast was served, along with the raffle prizes being picked. Out of $2500 worth of raffle gifts, many were hoping for the Bruins tickets that were the final prize. After the event was concluded, over $6000 was raised from the raffle and breakfast. When asked about why he wanted to start this club and these fundraisers, Tyler Smith ’26 says that ever since he was little, he has always had an admiration and respect for those who have served our country, and he hopes that this tradition will continue, even after he graduates from Belmont Hill with plans to row at the U.S. Naval Academy next year.
Along with the 5K, former U.S. Naval Officer Alex Santangelo ’15 spoke at Belmont Hill’s annual Veterans Day chapel. Mr. Santanlego shared his experiences in the Navy and connected them to life at BH. He was deployed for around 6 months on the USS Winston Churchill and developed strong relationships with his crew members. He spoke about the value of teamwork and the importance of understanding the people you work with. He explained that the crew of the ship was diverse and came from a range of different backgrounds, but what united them all was their shared sense of purpose and love for their country. He also explained that service does not only mean serving in the military; it also means making a positive impact on the people around you, whether that be at BH or anywhere else. Near the end of his speech, he said, “[f]idelitas, providentia, studium. These are not just Latin words. They’re part of the code that turns ordinary people into people who we remember on days like this. You don’t need to join the military to live these values or to lead a life of service.” His speech clearly resonated with BH as he received a standing ovation from the boys.
