Sisters organize third annual Veterans Appreciation Night at Whitehall High School

BY SCOTT DECAMP

Whitehall District Schools

WHITEHALL – The action on the gymnasium floor at Whitehall High School was secondary to what took place between varsity basketball games Friday night (Jan. 9, 2026). 

Organized by Whitehall girls basketball players, sisters Janie and Allie Fagan, the third annual Veterans Appreciation Night stole the show. The event is based on a Whitehall High School National Honor Society Legacy Project by the Fagan sisters.

Whitehall girls and boys basketball players accompanied veterans onto the floor during a ceremony between the varsity contests.

Leo Fagan, Janie and Allie’s father, served in the United States Marine Corps for 23 years. Previously, Janie and older sister Lianne Fagan organized Veterans Appreciation Night. Twenty-seven veterans connected to Whitehall basketball players and the White Lake community. The Fagan sisters raised $860, which will be split between the White Lake VFW and Whitehall American Legion.

“It means a lot to us,” said Janie Fagan, a senior. “My dad means a ton to me and to do this not only for him but for all the veterans and the VFW and American Legion, it makes my heart happy and I’m grateful that I’m able to do this for them. It means the world to me.”

On the 35th anniversary month of the Persian Gulf War, Whitehall High School welcomed veterans from White Lake VFW Post 3256 and Whitehall American Legion Post 69 as well as veterans who’ve made an impact on the Vikings basketball players personally.

An event such as Friday’s puts things into perspective.

“We don’t use the hyperbole of ‘going to war’ when it comes to sports. There’s real war and it’s a whole lot different than the pretty meaningless stuff we do out here (in comparison),” said Brian Milliron, Whitehall High School teacher and head girls basketball coach. “But we get to do it because of what they did and that’s an extremely important part and it’s not lost on our kids.

“It’s not lost on Allie Fagan or Janie, whose dad was in the Marine Corps for 23 years, and so many of our players who have connections to it.”

Win or lose in the basketball games, the Vikings have their hearts in the right place as evidenced by the appreciation shown for veterans.

Milliron said that some veterans were a bit reluctant to go in front of spectators at the game, as they’d rather not have the attention focused on them. 

“Our kids do such a good job and they have great people in their lives like these veterans that make them these great people. We want to celebrate that,” Milliron said.

Of course, it hits especially close to home for the Fagans. They know precisely how precious our veterans are.

“I think it’s important because they should be recognized for the things that they do because they’ve done a lot for our country and they’re really important to us,” said Allie Fagan, a sophomore. “They should be recognized more than they (are).”

Interjected Janie Fagan: “They sacrificed their whole lives. It’s nothing that no ordinary person could do.”