Central Catholic High School: Button Brigade Honors Veterans

Central Catholic High School Army JROTC Cadets stand at attention for local veterans.

Written by Edward Hernandez, Senior Army Instructor 

On Nov. 11, 2025, Central Catholic High School’s Mighty Button Brigade, Army JROTC Corps of Cadets, held their annual Veterans Day salute and brigade review. The ceremony was planned and organized by junior and senior cadets. It was a dignified event that gave the cadets an opportunity to salute and honor Veterans. The event was open to the public and included local veterans, parents, grandparents, and the school’s students, faculty and staff.

Cadet Gerik Lozano said, ““I am feeling great! The whole ceremony went great in general; there was a lot of turnout from veterans and Cadets. Overall, it was a very great event!”

The ceremony was held in the school’s athletic stadium, the Bob Benson ’66 Stadium. The annual review was executed by the entire 299-strong Corps, organized into two battalions and six companies. The ceremony included an inspection of troops by the reviewing officer, recognition of veterans by campaign/time-period of service, and an all-service pass and review, in which veterans were given the opportunity to walk the field carrying their service flag.

Cadet Marius Bonds said, after the ceremony, “I am very happy today because today is Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2025. It was a very good ceremony. A lot of my family came; my great-uncle served in a war and my great grandpa served in World War II. It was a pleasure honoring them today.”

The guest reviewing officer for the event was Col. Julia A. Brennan, Brigade Commander, 5th Brigade, U.S. Army Cadet Command. Following the event Brennan took time to talk with Cadets and veterans and families attending the event. Veterans were also provided with a BBQ lunch and a space to eat, socialize, and take pictures at the end of the event.

Manuel Saenz, a CCHS alumnus and Air Force veteran, said of the ceremony, “I am feeling amazing. It was a great ceremony, one of the best we have had in years, I’d like to say. It was amazing seeing all the Veterans, especially after the ceremony. They were all extremely joyful, so I thank them, and I think our Corps did amazing.”

Central Catholic High School is a college preparatory school in San Antonio, which was founded in 1852. The school has maintained an Army JROTC program since 1933. The school is the oldest all boys Catholic school in Texas and remains one of the largest all-male private schools in the state. The Army JROTC program also includes girls from two all-female private Catholic schools, Providence Catholic School and Incarnate Word High School. For more information, visit https://www.cchs-satx.org/ or https://www.youtube.com/@cchs-satx-jrotc