Published November 5, 2025
BY SOPHIE CANAN
Veterans Day, a time of recognizing service and reflecting, is observed by many Carmel families and local veterans, including Carmel High School parents and teachers, who express why the holiday is significant in their community.
Local veterans, like CHS mom of two and retired Sgt. Sandi Maxinoski, remind people in the community of the sacrifices and fear that veterans continue to fight through.
Retired Sgt. Sandi Maxinoski (left) deployed to Iraq as a civil affairs specialist during the Iraq War. Photo by JASON GAMBLE
“A lot of people put their lives into this, and have helped hold down the values of what our nation stands for,” says Maxinoski. “There’s more to Veterans Day than just the wars, it’s the amount of time you put into the service.”
Maxinoski served as a civil affairs specialist for the Army during the Iraq War, where she accompanied the governor of Nineveh.
“It was a rainbow of emotions,” Maxinoski explains. “There’s this feeling that we’re helping, we’re giving back, like I’m part of something bigger.”
Throughout all the exciting and memorable moments, Maxinoski also describes remembering how terrified she was, but even after experiencing a bombing in the city hall and the constant fear that followed, she continued to serve alongside her team.
“While I was home on leave, my team got hit by an improvised explosive device,” Maxinoski recalls, “and the seat that I sat in every day was destroyed. If I was there, what would have happened?”
Navy Capt. Kenneth Kemmerly with his two kids before getting back on the USS Carl Vinson. Photo by JENNIFER KEMMERLY
Current Navy Capt. Kenneth Kemmerly, a father of both a current and former CHS student, also served in Iraq as well as in Afghanistan during the global war on terrorism. He felt the impact and importance of his role as he supported troops on ground in enemy combat.
“Veterans Day is an important time to recognize service, especially those who gave the ultimate sacrifice–their life,” Kemmerly says.
While honoring these sacrifices on Veterans Day is now an important part of recognizing their dedication, it wasn’t always that way.
“Our society’s attitudes towards veterans has changed a lot, in a positive way, since 2001,” says retired Army Capt. Thomas Dooner, a former CHS science teacher. “The way in which Veterans Day is celebrated is a part of that, but it’s also much bigger.”
The holiday first emerged as Armistice Day after World War I to honor those who had died while serving for the United States. After World War II, the name was changed to Veterans Day, honoring everyone who served, not just those who had lost their lives.
Local veterans say this new focus makes this day a more uplifting and inspiring holiday.
“It prompts a conversation about what it was like,” says retired Lt. Cmdr. Bill Schrier, a CHS history teacher and mock trial coach. “It provides an opportunity for those who have served to share their experiences with the next generation.”
Lt. Cmdr. Bill Schrier, now a longtime CHS social studies teacher and mock trial coach, during his service in the Navy. photo by U.S. NAVY
Schrier explains that many people have preconceived ideas about the military that might discourage them from
joining. These ideas might not always be accurate, so by sharing their experiences, veterans in the Carmel community hope to create a long-lasting impact.
Veterans’ inspiring memories are a big part of reaching the younger generation, as Dooner expresses, after serving in West Germany patrolling the border during the Cold War.
“Jumping out of airplanes as an airborne soldier was really memorable,” says Dooner. “It was fantastic. I have nothing but great memories of my time in the army.”
Experiences and stories from CHS parents and teachers like these can motivate future generations to join the military and learn the impact that veterans have on not just the country, but on smaller communities like Carmel itself.
