A Daily Rite

Each morning at 7:45, the American flag rises at Lyndon Institute, a sentinel between the Main Building above and Lewis Field below. Traditionally, the job fell to a member of the maintenance staff, but a few years ago that changed. More recently, arriving parents, students, and teachers driving up Institute Circle in front of the school may happen to notice a familiar scene of three or four people gathered at the flagpole, focused on hoisting the flag with ceremony and grace.

Dr. Paul Benoit, physics teacher and Science Department chair, is the stalwart who—rain or shine (or snow or ice)—both raises the flag in the morning and takes it down at the end of the school day. But he’s usually not alone, joined most days by several students.

“I started doing it two years ago. Though I am not a veteran (my terrible eyesight killed my hopes of joining the armed forces), my sister served in the Army and was a Gulf War veteran, and this is in part a way for me to honor her service,” said Benoit. 

“I saw flag ceremonies being done over the years, and when my son went into the Boy Scouts I got initiated into the process. There’s a beautiful lesson in it—an opportunity for unification, a shared experience that anyone can learn.”

Even after Benoit’s son mustered out as an Eagle Scout, Benoit continued to be part of the organization, serving fifteen years in total.

When he started teaching at LI four years ago, Benoit noticed that Special Education teacher Eric Stuepfert, a member of Vermont’s National Guard, had taken up the daily duty, often accompanied by several of his students. Benoit offered to help, volunteering to take over one or two days a week.

“A friend of mine from the VFW [Veterans of Foreign Wars] in Littleton once commented that if we want to honor vets and service members, we shouldn’t give them more work to do,” Benoit explained.

After Stuepfert left LI to become a full-time chaplain in the Guards, Benoit took over the duty full-time. He worked solo at first, but before long help arrived. 

“I didn’t actively recruit,” Benoit said. “It just sort of happened naturally.”

First it was Richard Bell, who showed up one day his freshman year to help out. Next came his classmate Luther Pellerin. Now, the pair—both juniors—are there nearly every morning and after school when they don’t have other commitments.

“At first, I went mostly because I just thought Doc B could use some help,” said Bell, referring to Benoit by his common nickname among the student body. “But it also gives me a chance to honor all the members of my family who were in the military. My great-grandfather McAllister died fighting in World War 2.”

Bell is consistent. “I try to be there every day. And every afternoon if I can, so we can do the formal triangle fold.”

It’s a commitment, but one Bell enjoys. “It feels pretty good. It’s a nice way to feel like part of your school community and part of your country.”

Bell is typically joined by his friend and fellow junior, Luther Pellerin. 

“I started at first mostly because Richard dragged me along,” Pellerin joked. “But I came to understand why he did it. I’m also inspired by my own family members who were in the military.” Pellerin noted that his great-grandmother served as a medic in Europe during World War 2. 

“My family is proud of me,” said Pellerin. “Especially my grandfather who was a welder in the Navy. I was drawn to this by him and his service. Being part of it helps give an understanding of where our values come from.”

Benoit and the boys are careful to follow the flag protocol as much as possible—keeping the flag from touching the ground, hats off and hands on heart as it’s raised. 

“It’s a little tricky some days now that we have a giant new flag donated by the local VFW,” Benoit said, “but we do our best.” 

The American flag is now accompanied by a Lyndon Institute flag commissioned by Head of School, Dr. Brian Bloomfield, that bears the school’s emblem and motto—Per Aspera Ad Astra (“Through hard work we reach the stars”).

With Veterans Day upon us, Benoit, Bell, and Pellerin’s daily commitment is a fitting reminder of just one of the ways the LI community comes together to not only honor the nation but those who served in its defense.