11/11/2023
This week I was graced with the opportunity to attend a middle school Veterans Day ceremony and reception. It was wonderful to hear 8th graders from different demographics read their essays on what America and patriotism mean to them. Each essay was uniquely impactful and heartfelt. This event also included a parade of veterans into the school assembly, color guard, pledge of allegiance, chorus singing each military service song, band performance and a female US Airforce Master Sergeant. She did a great job relating to the middle schoolers, sharing the spirit of service, and what it means when veterans refer to their brothers and sisters in arms.
Appreciation for what our country stands for, the people who serve to protect it, the unity that comes from serving one nation under God is taught and not handed down through genetics. As an immigrant to America myself, this appreciation was taught to me in school and helped me fall in love with this country enough to serve in the military myself. This Veterans Day, let’s take the time to share with our children why we chose to serve, what it meant to us and also share memories of the loved ones we lost in their service. Let us remember and teach the next generation so they can meet and exceed our accomplishments.
"We live in divisive times, but I think it's only fitting that at this critical moment, we remember that the one idea that sustains the soul of America above all others is freedom.” - Oprah Winfrey