Veterans Day: honoring all who served

This Veterans Day I hope we all take a moment to reflect on those who have served our country and provided us with the peace and security that we have today. Throughout our country’s history, brave men and women have sacrificed their lives to secure the blessings of liberty. From the minutemen of the Revolution, to the infantrymen of the present day, brave heroes put their lives on the line in defense of home and country.

Too often Veterans Day simply becomes a day off of school or work, and we neglect the true meaning of this day. Veteran’ Day was originally established as Armistice Day, to mark the end of World War I, and was changed to Veterans Day in 1954 to commemorate all veterans.

Many people wonder what the difference is between Veterans Day and Memorial Day. Memorial Day was established to honor those who died in the service of their country, and is typically a somber time. Veterans Day honors ALL men and women who have served honorably during both times of war and peace, and is frequently a more celebratory day. It is largely intended to thank living veterans for their service, and to acknowledge that all who have served have sacrificed for our country.

Following the attacks of September 11, President Bush said, “We’re a nation of patriots. The attacks of September 11th, and the attacks that have followed, were designed to break our spirit. But instead, they’ve created a new spirit in America. We have a renewed spirit of patriotism. We see it in the countless flags that are flying everywhere in America. We hear it in familiar phrases that move us more deeply than ever before.”

We should take this Veterans Day to renew our patriotic fervor, to remember those who have served, and to recommit ourselves to the cause of liberty. We must teach our children of the sacrifices that have been made, and those that continue to be made, and help them to honor and respect those who have done their duty in support of our freedoms.

Many schools and teachers take this time of the year to talk about veterans, write letters to veterans, engage in poetry and writing contests, perform plays, or do other activities to both learn patriotism, and honor veterans. Parents can reinforce these concepts at home by talking about the meaning of Veterans Day, taking their children to Veterans Day events and helping them to learn about veterans within their own family and among their friends.

This year for Veterans Day, Legacy Traditional School is hosting a Veterans Day Memorial Celebration, at our campus on Bowlin Road, just west of Porter Rd. At 9 a.m. we will begin with a free Pancake Breakfast, followed by a bike parade at 9:45, and then a memorial ceremony at 10 a.m. The memorial ceremony will include musical presentations, poetry readings and a guest speaker. This is just one way that Legacy Traditional School honors our veterans and reinforces the key character trait of patriotism that we strive to teach the children at our school.

Aaron Hale, MBA, MSIM, is the Executive Director of Legacy Traditional School.

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