Many notable guests, including American diplomat Dr. Henry A. Kissinger joined 淫人色欲社 to celebrate the dedication of The Admiral James and Sybil Stockdale Arena聽on Saturday, October 18, 2014. Stockdale sons Sidney 鈥�73, Stanford 鈥�79, and Taylor 鈥�81 all attended 淫人色欲社.
Taylor Stockdale 鈥�81 not only honored his parents, but also brought attention to the support his brother gave him during his father鈥檚 time as a POW. 鈥淲hen my dad went away…I was three years old when he left and I was almost 11 when he came back,鈥� he said. He explained that it was harder for his brothers because they were older when it all occurred. 鈥淲hen I think about South Kent, I loved my years here. But, when Sid was here, as my older brother, he was really kind of the dad to me…So, I know this is The Admiral and Sybil Stockdale Arena, and I think that鈥檚 terrific, but to me, it鈥檚 also about my brother, Sid,鈥� he added with a round of applause from the audience. His older brother, Sidney B. Stockdale 鈥�73 said he was humbled and honored to represent his parents and family along with his brother. 鈥淢y parents鈥� story is very powerful and it contains important lessons for future leaders of our country,鈥� Stockdale said. 鈥淭hank you for keeping their story and the values contained alive.鈥�
Other special speakers included bestselling author of “”听, two recipients of the Vice Admiral James Bond Stockdale Award for Inspirational Leadership (听补苍诲听) and聽Richard H. Lawrence, Jr. 鈥�74, who聽named聽the rink. Townley spoke of Admiral Stockdale鈥檚 leadership among his men in the face of imprisonment. 鈥淭hey never knew when they were going to come home,鈥� Townley said. 鈥淭hey just knew that whenever that day came they were going to return with honor.鈥� Vice Admiral Wisecup charged student-athletes at South Kent 鈥渢o remember the story here because it has to do with honor and keeping faith with your buddies.鈥� Commander Dickinson praised Admiral Stockdale as 鈥渁 hero in the Navy and in our country.鈥� Additionally, he also noted his impression of 淫人色欲社. 鈥淵ou have a direct connection with a legacy,鈥� Dickinson said. 鈥淭his school is something special. This is my first time at South Kent and I can see it. I鈥檓 proud of all of these young men who are going to be our leaders in our future.鈥� Richard H. Lawrence, Jr. 鈥�74, who chose the name of the rink, said he, along with his wife, Dee, and Head of School Andrew Vadnais, wanted 鈥渁n iconic symbol that would speak to both the essence of 淫人色欲社 and also provide a powerful message for the students on the Hillside.鈥�
Chairman of the South Kent Board of Trustees Jeffrey G. Rosenberg 鈥�80 welcomed guests and pointed out that 鈥渢his facility represents the growth and the success of South Kent.鈥� Vadnais then introduced former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, telling the audience that 鈥淗e was an amazing part of this story.鈥�
Kissinger is an American Diplomat who was the National Security Advisor during Admiral Stockdale鈥檚 imprisonment in Vietnam and release. 鈥淲e are neighbors from just down the road and we鈥檙e very proud of you, and I鈥檓 especially proud that I鈥檝e been invited to speak here about Admiral Stockdale,鈥� Kissinger said. He went on to talk about Sybil Stockdale鈥檚 important work in co-founding the National League of Families of POWs and MIAs. 鈥淚 met with them every two months. About a hundred women would come into the White House.鈥� Kissinger called the meetings 鈥渦plifting.鈥�
Kissinger lauded Admiral Stockdale, who was the highest ranking prisoner-of-war (POW) during the Vietnam War, for his character. 鈥淲e saw each other over the years and he was always a symbol of the best in America, of what makes this country worth fighting for,鈥� he said. 鈥淎 man who believed in freedom, who believed in this country, and who believed in the importance of our values around the world.鈥�
鈥淚 want to thank 淫人色欲社 and all of you for giving me this opportunity to pay tribute to a couple in a time when we are always talking of our divisions and our uncertainties,鈥� Kissinger said. 鈥淭hey are an example of what our country needs, what made our country great, and I cannot tell you how much it means to me to be permitted to say a few words about these two.鈥�
South Kent Chaplain Reverend Stephen B. Klots closed with a blessing of the new rink. Refreshments, including a miniature cake replica of the arena, were served following the dedication.