Honor and Color Guard Present Colors in Washington, D. C.

On Friday, September 28, 2007, select members of the Saint Thomas Academy Color Guard and the Honor Guard commander traveled to Washington D.C. There, the Color Guard presented the colors for the 2007 NCEA (National Catholic Educational Association) St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Awards ceremony on Monday, October 1, 2007.

This event is hosted annually and it honors those who support and serve Catholic education for the youths in this country. Furthermore, the NCEA is the largest private professional association in the world, and it currently represents more than 200, 000 Catholic educators. The event was held at the Ronald Reagan International Trade Center.

Father Thomas O’Brien, who contacted the NCEA, made this extraordinary opportunity possible. Every year, the NCEA selects a military group to present the colors at the major, black tie event.

The people who participated in the event were M. Hamilton (senior, commander of the Honor Guard), M. Meyer (senior), E. Bruder (junior), R. Litwin (junior), T. Mannuzza (sophomore), C. O’Daniel (sophomore), CW3 Friede (chaperone, and moderator on the Honor and Color Guards), and Father Thomas O’Brien (chaperone). CW3 Friede said that this event “is a huge opportunity and it is a big deal in D.C.” when asked about it.

The Saint Thomas Academy community would also like to thank Mr. George Wozniak ’71 for graciously donating the plane tickets for the trip. While in D.C., Saint Thomas Academy funded the group’s expenses.

Past recipients of NCEA St. Elizabeth Ann Seton include Thomas Clements ’73 (2006), Gerald and Henrietta Rauenhorst, parents of STA alumni (2005), Bill and Diana Makens, parents of STA alumni (2004), and Barbara Koch, parent of STA alumnus (1994).

~ S-5 Public Affairs Officer T. Ryan '08