Principal farewell song

a uniform put on
left home, you crossed the sea to serve
a soldier loyal and brave
your duty learned and lived and taught
and now, passed on.

twenty year have gone
a thousand school assemblies
we've grown together strong
you've stood behind us, been our strength,
for now, so long.

So, the years roll by
the hourglass of time
turns and bids us part
and as we say goodbye
we look back with thankfulness
on the years that you have spent
walking by our side

Our praises you have earned
Our uniforms we wear with pride
We stand, foundations firm
Our duty we have learned and now
We serve, we serve.

sar 2009

What do you think? Too gushy? (A certain amount of gush is unavoidable in such a song...) Does anyone know about these kind of events and what's appropriate?