GEN E R ATIONS
“Earn This”—Jack Kraus ’12
Jack Kraus ’12, sophomore at the United States Military Academy at West Point,
gave a Chapel Talk in November to our seventh and eighth graders.
Jack told the boys of an experience he had had at Grand Central Terminal at
Christmastime, when he was a senior at Lawrenceville. While waiting for a train
and having breakfast at the Terminal, he noticed a man who was homeless. The man
sat down and opened a container of food. Before the man ate, he bowed his head
and prayed. That moment made Jack realize that there was so much in his own life
that he took for granted. Here, before him, was someone who seemed not to have
a lot, but who was grateful for what he did have.
My challenge to all of you here today is to ‘earn this,’” Jack said, drawing upon
the last line in the movie Saving Private Ryan; noting how fortunate they all are
to be at a school like Saint David’s, and how vital it is to give back by contributing
to the greater good.
He encouraged them to continue to do the good works that the boys engage
in through all of the service projects at our school, closing with: “When you leave
Saint David’s, the work doesn’t stop, you have to find a way to keep doing good
in the world in order to be a good man.”
“The message of Jack’s talk is an important one for our boys to hear, and all the more powerful when delivered by someone
who sat in the same Chapel just a few years ago and is now serving our country,” said Dr. O’Halloran.
Odds Win Again!
Alumni representing several decades of classes were back at school for the annual Odds vs. Evens Soccer challenge. The
lively competitive playing resulted in a close match, with the Odds besting Evens, 4-3.
80 • Saint David’s Magazine