Veteran’s Day

     Veteran’s Day is a holiday observed on November 11th, since around 1918, after World War I concluded. To America, this is an important holiday celebrated to show the citizens' appreciation of those who’ve served to protect the country. This holiday was originally called Armistice Day, named by President Wilson of 1919. It was called this because of the armistice agreement between Germany and the Allied Nations. However, this was changed to what we now know it as after World War II to honor the military from all wars.

     The celebrations surrounding this day commonly include parades, ceremonies, and many moments of silence. It’s a day to reflect on everything that our military has done to fight for our country and our rights toward freedom. Schools typically hold some sort of educational event, just like IKE did; as Ms. Skiles said, the YSD now has an hour to dedicate to Veteran’s Day. This year, we invited veterans to speak about their time serving, their experience, and what it meant to them. I think it was an amazing way to reflect on what they’ve done for the country and what some of us students could possibly learn to sacrifice in the future, plus seeing what committing to those sacrifices can mean for their future and the country’s.

     Not only is Veteran’s Day a holiday to ensure that service members are celebrated and their legacy continued, but it’s a day to focus on the fact that a lot of veterans struggle with mental and physical issues that are a result of their service. Many veterans struggle with switching from serving to living as a citizens once again. They face issues such as accessing healthcare to aid the issues they may have gained from their service, finding new employment, or furthering their education. This is a time of remembrance to empathize with those who still struggle outside their serving time. It’s a good opportunity to look into ways to support them, ensuring that these veterans receive the aid, resources, therapy, etc., needed.