I recently had the opportunity to attended a veterans day open house. Which was held in the “Dr. Juan R. Oliarez Student Plaza ,in the main building at Grand Rapids community”(Grand Rapids Community College.edu). There were a ceremony and reception at the end of the ceremony, we all took a moment of silence to recognize the fallen soldiers that were unable To be with their families, and loved ones. Not to mention I had placed my flag in the dirt it was one of many flags that were scattered around. Furthermore, I had the opportunity to thank some of our brave soldiers, for instance my professor, notably it was an honor to shake his hands. Then later on that day I still needed to spend 3 or more hours at a political or governmental functioning. …show more content…
Which was held in the “Dr. Juan R. Oliarez Student Plaza ,in the main building at Grand Rapids community”(Grand Rapids Community College.edu). There were a ceremony and reception at the end of the ceremony, we all took a moment of silence to recognize the fallen soldiers that were unable To be with their families, and loved ones. Not to mention I had placed my flag in the dirt it was one of many flags that were scattered around. Furthermore, I had the opportunity to thank some of our brave soldiers, for instance my professor, notably it was an honor to shake his hands. Then later on that day I still needed to spend 3 or more hours at a political or governmental functioning. So me and my younger siblings attended the veterans day parade. the city of grand rapids was honoring military members. In the meantime, while waiting for the parade to start at 7,even though I had arrived there's an hour earlier, I had the opportunity to speak with three United states army field band members they welcomes my younger siblings with hugs and laughter, they all seemed interested and genuine to talk to me and my sibling they even offered to take a picture with them seeing that I humbly thanked them for serving our country. “The parade traveled south on Monroe avenue before passing through east on Monroe center NW, south on division avenue ,then east on Fulton street, and finally ending at Veterans memorial park”(grcity.us).
...ould to assure his men would be rewarded with a victory parade when they came home in February 1919. After returning the 369th infantry has a parade kicking off at 11:00 a.m. that stretched 7 miles long. (Gates) In Harlem, the Chicago Defender observed, February 17th, 1919, was an official holiday with black school children granted dismissal by the Board of Education. After the parade, city officials honored the troops a special dinner. A. Phillip Randolph said, “I wasn’t to congratulate you for doing your bit to make the world safe for democracy… and unsafe for hypocrisy.”
A time to remember those who died, those who served, and those who carry on.” ~Unknown. Servicemen make sacrifices daily. During 9/11, the Manhattan firefighters were responding to a gas leak when they heard the explosion from one of the twin towers. Policemen and firefighters from all around New York and surrounding areas came to help rescue the victims. They searched through rubbish and raced with time to check the buildings before and after the buildings collapsed. There were clouds of smoke, dust, and debris flying through the streets; blinding the bystanders. Hundreds of servicemen died that day, including military personnel in the Pentagon who were also hit by the hijackers. I had a cousin named Johnnie Doctor Jr who was in the Navy. He was killed in the Pentagon. I never got to know him, but from what I heard he was a great person to be
Our veterans helped make our country the best country, which is known for fact.Today, because of our veterans I’m proud to say that every citizen has the right to speak and share their voice no matter what their race is. In some countries, there are still racial conflicts and all races.I am also proud to say that every child in America,no matter what their race is, they can have a free education. Most children in other countries are not allowed to go to school because they can’t afford it instead, they go to work
When you look into veterans eyes, you can see several things that are important. The pride shines through, the pride of serving ones country, and the dedication to protect other peoples freedom even it if requires paying the ultimate price. These men and women give their lives to give us our freedom. As a one of the many individuals that they are protecting it is vital that we see that pride and appreciate where it comes from.
I believe that veterans are our nation’s bravest citizens. I also harbor a special adoration for them because my brother is in the Army and he has already served one tour in Iraq, and is currently on his second at the age of nineteen. My family is either very lucky or very blessed because my brother has yet to be injured in active duty. One day, I hope to join the Air Force and, in turn, become a veteran, as well. Veterans can remind us just how horrible war is, and, hopefully, prevent more wars in the future. Veterans have sacrificed so much so that we may have our rights, our leisures, our hopes, our dreams, and, most of all, our freedom. Everyone should honor the veterans of our nation at all times, not just on holidays like Veteran’s Day and Memorial Day during which we are constantly reminded of our forefathers whom gave their lives and so much more for our country. Many of us take things like going for a walk in the park, hanging out with friends, or going to the church of our choice for granted. I think we all need to take a step back and really look at the situations other countries are in right now and the dealings that they are going through. Then maybe we can look at our own country and really see what we have that others don’t, and consider all the lives, limbs, labors, and loves lost for every single aspect of freedom that we have. Our own men, women, and, at times, children have been sacrificed to feed the mouth of the beast that is poverty, oppression, depression, hunger, violence, and greed.
I chose the easy route of interview my grandpa (Dean Randel) who served in World War II as flight deck operator that signaled the aircrafts and got them ready for flight. He was station in San Diego on the USS Wisconsin which was of course a aircraft carrier. As I grew up he always told me stories of the good times he had with buddies and just living the good life. This is a first for me to sit down one on one with him and hear about what went on. Before I could even get a word in my grandpa ask me, “Do you know how Veterans Day was brought about?” I was so shock he was into doing this that I just shut my mouth and listened. He continued by saying in 1921, an American soldier -his name "known but to God "-was buried on a Virginia hillside overlooking the Potomac River and the city of Washington, DC. The burial site of this unknown World War I soldier in Arlington National Cemetery symbolized dignity and pride for all American veterans. Similar ceremonies occurred earlier in England and France, where an "unknown soldier” was buried in each nation’s highest place of honor (I later researched and found out it was in England, Westminster Abbey; in France, the Arc de Triomphe). These memorial gestures all took place on November 11, giving universal recognition to the celebrated ending of World War I hostilities at 11 a.m., November 11, 1918 (the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month). The day became known as "Armistice Day.”Armistice Day of...
Veterans are a hearty lot. They serve and sacrifice, and having the honor of wearing the uniform is enough thanks for most of them.
War is hell. War is misery, suffering, pain, and anguish. From the days of rocks and sticks to today’s high tech drones and aircraft carriers one thing above all others has remained the same; war is a terrifying, nightmarish endeavor. Unfortunately for those who fight for their nation, the battlefield does not remain in the far off land where the battle took place. In fact, those warriors bring back that battlefield, festering in the hearts and minds, sometimes long after their uniforms have been put in the closet to collect dust. It should come as no surprise that for a variety of reasons all stemming from combat experience, many of our nations Veterans will act in unconventional or perhaps even illegal ways, in an attempt to cope with the stress of their military service. It may be easy for some to say that these men and women, despite their service, are criminals and should be locked away like any other who breaks the law. However, if rehabilitation is truly a goal of our justice system it would not make any sense to take a group of offenders suffering from the side effects of combat experiences and throw them in prison, which is little better than combat anyway. This is why the advent of Veteran’s courts is so important. Due to their service, and the effects that PTSD and other service related conditions may have on their criminal behavior, Veteran’s courts are not only an honorable way to treat our nation’s defenders, but a way in which to protect them from the negative impact of incarceration. These courts, which are based off of drug and mental health courts, are designed to take less serious offenders, who offenses were related to their service connected conditions and keep them away from incarceration and into treatment (...
The moment I visited the veterans seems frozen in time. Tears stream down my face as I listen to the stories. My heart pounds as I think about how they must have felt.Thank you to all veterans for teaching me about my responsibility to America’s future and putting America on the path to
As time goes, the understanding of the day has changed as well. Much like the original concept of the Purple Heart being an award given for valor and merit before transitioning later to a medal for wounded service members, Veterans Day originated with the same concept as today’s Memorial Day. What is most important to realize is that regardless of what the true definition means to the observer, the purpose behind the day is to remind us all that people put their lives on the line in support of their countries and their fellow man. Their service, their sacrifice, and their dedication to something greater than themselves is honored across the
Veteran’s day is a reflection of the peace and the warrior culture in the United States. While peace cultures strive for tolerance and positive peace, warrior cultures focus on aggression and domination and this Day demonstrates how both cultures are engrained in the American society.
They see themselves as soldiers carrying out a mission that they were called to complete to defend our country. To them, they can’t imagine that anyone else would not do the same. I have never seen my uncle so upset as the day he was told “Happy Veteran’s Day”. Most of what he recalls were not “happy” memories. He would get so aggravated that most Americans do not know the significance and the difference between Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day. These are just a couple of examples of how nonveterans can educate themselves so that we are able to honor and thank our veterans properly. A simple “thank you for your service” is really all they expect. Taking care of our veterans and their families is our duty as a country. They ARE our American
The purpose of Veterans Day is to honor veterans who have served and sacrificed for our nation. Nevertheless, nobody knows what veterans do or how they feel after separating from the military.
Veterans don’t even know me or my family but they are still sacrificing their time for us. We should make them feel good and show them how much we appreciate them not just for today but for the end of our lives.
The next time you see a veteran thank them for all they have given up or would have given up for this country. In conclusion, we must honor the emblem of this great country because it stands above all others. Our country has been through a lot to get where we are today. So if you don't like to follow our rules you can go live in a country that doesn't have the same amount of freedom as we have.