SHS Class President Defines the Phrase ‘Service Above Self’

Eddie Klein will not be walking with his class when Southington High School hosts the 2013 commencement ceremonies next Friday.

It’s not a behavioral issue keeping him from his graduation, nor are there any issues with his schoolwork keeping him back. Instead the Class of 2013 President will forgo his graduation ceremonies for a noble cause – he is leaving Monday to join the nation’s military as a member of the Army National Guard.

Klein will be leaving on June 17 for Fort Benning, Ga. – so on Thursday evening, the Board of Education thanked him for his hard work in school and service to the country with a special graduation ceremony at their last regular meeting of the school year.

“I was prepared to go without being able to take part at all, so I really owe the Board of Education a thank you,” said Klein, 18, after receiving his diploma.

For his family, classmates and members of the Board of Education, the ceremony proved a special one and left many in tears as they wished luck to their class leader.

His parents Debara and Donald Klein and his twin sister Katlin, who will take on the honor of delivering his speech to the remainder of his class on June 21, stood by his side while Board of Education Chairman Brian Goralski handed him his cap, gown and diploma before giving him a hug as the audience broke into a standing ovation.

Debara Klein still had tears in her eyes afterwards as she spoke with reporters and described how she tried to request he be able to walk with his classmates, only to have her son tell her it was his duty to report to basic training.

“I’m so proud and it’s just hard to put into words how special this moment was,” she said. “I wanted him to graduate and told him I’d talk to the military, but he sat me down and said he was going to honor his commitment.”

It’s leadership like this that led to Klein, a multi-sport athlete, to become the president of his class over the past three years, said Southington High School Principal Martin Semmel. Semmel said while he is proud of all Klein has accomplished and his commitment to serve the country, it will be a big loss not to have him at graduation.

“Eddie truly is a great kid, the whole class has been and he’s helped set the tone,” Semmel said. “It’s a real honor anytime a student goes off to serve the country and it’s nice that we are able recognize everything he’s done and everything he is sacrificing for our country.”

Klein said serving in the military is something he’s always wanted to do and after sitting and talking with a recruiter at length in January, he signed up and made the commitment. At that time, graduation was slated to take place on June 10, but snow days and weather pushed back the date.

He said he knew it was a possibility and is not upset that he will not be joining his classmates as he is moving forward and looking to accomplish career goals he’s had his mind on for years.

The last five months, however, have gone by faster than he could have imagined, Klein said.

“I know exactly where I need to be and I’m doing what I’ve always wanted to do. To me, that’s the most important thing,” he said.

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