Veterans

Today, we honor military Veterans around our country.  There will be parades, dedications, flags will be flying, and tears will be shed.  At our school, we have several Veterans joining us in our Main Gym during 8^th period.  There will be Moms and Dads, Grandmas and Grandpas, brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles and some Veterans who live in the area.  President Reagan said years ago that “Some wonder their entire life if they have made a difference…Marines don’t have that problem.”  They, along with millions of servicemen and servicewomen throughout our nation’s history have provided the very freedoms we enjoy through their courage, dedication, sacrifice, and a selfless call to duty. 

Americans have chosen to serve for many reasons.  In the Revolutionary War, it was to create a nation.  In World War II, it was to save humanity from the destructive plots of a madman and to respond to “A day that will live in infamy.” We fought a Civil War to save our own country from division that would not allow us to stand as one country. Korea and Vietnam were largely fought to prevent the oppression of tyrannical governments and the spread of communism.  The patriotism of hundreds of thousands was stirred on that terrible September day in 2001.  Men and women filled the recruiting stations to pledge themselves to the cause.  Whatever the reasons, an unthinkable number of American men and women have lost a large part of their lives; with hundreds of thousands giving the ultimate sacrifice – their very life in defending us.  We live in the greatest country in the world.  We get to enjoy freedoms that many countries cannot even dream of.  Our Constitution has been defended admirably for well over 200 years by people like the Veterans who will visit us today.  We owe them so much.  Today is an opportunity to show them our appreciation.  The program begins at the start of 8^th period and will last approximately 30 minutes. There will be real heroes among us today.