Veterans Day and Academic Excellence Honored
On Monday, in honor of Veterans Day, Lt. Col. Mike Klein spoke at Upper School assembly. In addition, seniors who have achieved the required level of academic excellence for induction in Cum Laude Society were recognized.
Introduced by twin daughters and Collegiate juniors Blayney and Emma, Lt. Col. Klein's service to our country began when he entered the United States Military Academy in 1981 and ended in 2006 after more than 21 years of service. (His daughters' complete introduction of their dad and details of his many accomplishments can be read below.) In his address to Upper School students, he talked of the importance of service, any kind of service, to others. He acknowledged that Veterans Day is a recognition of our military's service to country, but he emphasized that service could come in any form... service to a non-profit, service to the environment, service to homeless. He encouraged students to find a way they can serve their country and the people around them in a meaningful way.
Students who will be inducted into Cum Laude in the spring were recognized. Congratulations to Catherine DeVoe, May Donahue, Millie DuBose, Caroline Goggins, Virginia Harris, John Hazelton, Aven Jones, Charlie Meyer, Megan Phillips, Helen Roddey, Emily Spalding and Murphy Zaun. An induction ceremony will be held in April for both the fall and spring inductees. Congratulations, scholars!
FULL INTRODUCTION OF LT. COL. MIKE KLEIN:
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Students who will be inducted into Cum Laude in the spring were recognized. Congratulations to Catherine DeVoe, May Donahue, Millie DuBose, Caroline Goggins, Virginia Harris, John Hazelton, Aven Jones, Charlie Meyer, Megan Phillips, Helen Roddey, Emily Spalding and Murphy Zaun. An induction ceremony will be held in April for both the fall and spring inductees. Congratulations, scholars!
FULL INTRODUCTION OF LT. COL. MIKE KLEIN:
Emma: Hi, I am Emma and this is Blayney Klein. Today we have the honor of introducing our veterans day speaker, Lt. Colonel Mike Klein.
Blayney: Lt. Colonel Klein’s service began in 1981 as a cadet at the United States Military Academy. Graduating in 1985, he was commissioned as an Infantry Officer in the United States Army. From 1986 to 1990, he served in both the 82nd Airborne Division and the 1st Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. There, he earned a master parachutist rating for completing more than 65 military jumps. During this time he deployed to Panama, Honduras, and Europe.
Emma: In 1990 Lt. Colonel Klein was selected for the United States Funded Legal Education Program and entered the University of Virginia Law School. He graduated from law school in 1993 and took his first assignment as an Army Lawyer in Germany. There, he prosecuted more than 70 court-martials during the period of 1994 to 1996. After earning a Masters of Law Degree, Lt. Colonel Klein was assigned to the Office of the Judge Advocate General in the Pentagon.
Blayney: After leaving active duty in 1999, Lt. Colonel Klein was appointed as a JAG in the Army Reserve. In December 2001, in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, he was recalled to active duty. Following the President’s Military Order, he was one of three trial leaders responsible for trying suspected terrorists. In January 2002, Lt. Colonel Klein deployed to Afghanistan to lead the military investigation of suspected terrorists captured on the battlefield. His work on the military commissions resulted in further deployments to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, as well as extensive work in New York and Virginia with the U.S. Attorney responsible for trying Al Qaeda operative, Zacarias Moussaoui, currently serving a life sentence in prison.
Emma: In August of 2002, Lt. Colonel Klein’s recall to active duty ended, but he remained active in the Army Reserve. He retired from the Army in October 2006, after more than 21 years of service. His awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, which he was awarded five times, the master parachutist badge, the air assault badge, the expert infantry badge, and the Army Staff Identification Badge.
Blayney: After leaving active duty in 1999, Lt. Colonel Klein was appointed as a JAG in the Army Reserve. In December 2001, in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, he was recalled to active duty. Following the President’s Military Order, he was one of three trial leaders responsible for trying suspected terrorists. In January 2002, Lt. Colonel Klein deployed to Afghanistan to lead the military investigation of suspected terrorists captured on the battlefield. His work on the military commissions resulted in further deployments to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, as well as extensive work in New York and Virginia with the U.S. Attorney responsible for trying Al Qaeda operative, Zacarias Moussaoui, currently serving a life sentence in prison.
Emma: In August of 2002, Lt. Colonel Klein’s recall to active duty ended, but he remained active in the Army Reserve. He retired from the Army in October 2006, after more than 21 years of service. His awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, which he was awarded five times, the master parachutist badge, the air assault badge, the expert infantry badge, and the Army Staff Identification Badge.
Blayney: Lt. Colonel Klein currently works as an Attorney in the Altria Law Department here in Richmond, heading the E Discovery group. He has continued his work with veterans as he has created a partnership with the Veterans Hospital here in Richmond. Lt. Colonel Klein has five children. His oldest daughter, Allie, is a lawyer at Hunton & Williams, Andrew is stationed at the Army post of Ft. Myer in Washington D.C., Reilly is a third year at the United States Naval Academy, and Emma and I will graduate with the class of 2017 here at Collegiate. Please join us in welcoming our dad, Lt. Colonel Michael Klein.
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