Veteran’s Day is the yearly event where people remember those who died for us, and our freedom. As an 8th grader, I’ve come to realize what a truly special event this is and why it is so important not only to me and my classmates but our country as a whole. At Rockcastle County Middle School, Veteran’s Day is a really big deal. Teachers, staff and principals work weeks before November 11th to make sure everything is perfect for the men and women who gave their all. After all, how much is too much when we are recognizing the people who gave it all for us and our freedom ?
In the past two years, I have witnessed many hours of preparation and planning for this very special day. Teachers decorate their doors, students decorate the halls and our gym is decked out in red, white and blue. As a school and community, we want to make sure that our Veteran’s know without a doubt that we honor and respect each of them for their courage and bravery. Students work on speeches and the music is perfect. Veteran’s are greeted as if they are royalty and to some degree they really are. With all the work and preparation that goes into this day our school is gradually transformed into a living tribute to all who served. The Signal is there to take special photos in order to capture the events and the guests that we so warmly welcome. In my opinion, everyone, especially the Veteran’s, are excited about this heartwarming day.
As a young girl, I have heard the stories my step-dad has told me about how he fought in the Gulf War. He went into the army to serve his country and to make sure that our country stayed free and peaceful. I can’t imagine how he must have felt when he left for the army. He left all the comforts of home and family; all the things he knew. He left as a young boy and from what I have seen in pictures, he grew up while he was far away from home. I love to look at his pictures and hear the stories he tells. They are almost unbelievable, like a movie. I can tell he is very proud of himself and I am so very proud of him as well.
Veteran’s Day is an important day to me, my school and community mostly because we want to give something back to these very important men and women. A yearly celebration doesn’t compare to what they have given to us but we feel it is a start. John F. Kennedy once said, “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.“ I think he is saying that if we are to show true appreciation to all that our Veterans have done for us then we must not only speak of their excellent deeds but have courage enough to live by them.