In addition to observing a moment of silence during first period last Tuesday, several Whitman students honored our veterans by attending the Concert for Valor on the National Mall. The concert, sponsored by HBO, Starbucks and Chase, showcased the talents of artists like Rihanna, Carrie Underwood, Metallica and Bruce Springsteen.

Though the concert was free, it raised money for organizations such as the Bob Woodruff Foundation and the Fisher House Foundation through strongly encouraged donations. In between acts there were tributes to veterans who so dutifully serve our country.

The concert proved to be a memorable experience for many.

“The concert was amazing,” senior Hannah Walter said. It was great being able to see all those musicians and celebrities and being able to honor the veterans, all for free,”.

Senior Mia Greene had a similarly positive experience.

“It was an amazing experience filled with great music and inspirational stories about veterans,” she added.

The event was designed to bring together citizens and artists to respect and acknowledge the sacrifices made by the military. Walter appreciated the attentiveness of the concert goers and their lack of cell phone usage.

“People were just in the moment, enjoying the music,” Walter said.

The concert is in its first year, but many are hoping that it becomes an annual Veterans Day event.

“This should be an annual event because aside from the great music, it also raised awareness about what our veterans do for all of us,” Greene said.

Senior Will Fausnaugh was able to see some bands that he’s a fan of, including Metallica.

“I think the most memorable part of the whole concert was when Jack Black was introducing Metallica as ‘the greatest metal band in the history of the world, even better than Tenacious D,’ and yes, that’s possible,” he said.

Fausnaugh found the Concert for Valor experience to be different from others he had attended in the crowd’s varied yet involved audience.

“I’ve seen hundreds of bands live in all sorts of circumstances and atmospheres,” Fausnaugh said. “Never have I been in a crowd that diverse or united.”