We celebrated Veterans Day a week ago today. Personally, I think it’s one of the greatest holidays there is that this country observes.
The nation took time today to honor all the brave men and women who have been, and those who still are, willing to serve their country.
I was gathering information recently from all the schools throughout our area on what their plans were for last week, it was refreshing to see that most all had some type of program planned for that day.
All but a couple invited the veterans from the area to attend the programs and many provided refreshments for them. One school even held a meal afterwards.
There were a couple of schools that didn’t hold programs where outside visitors were allowed in their buildings. I get that. It was just keeping within their policies right now due to COVID.
But those school officials indicated they were using the day to educate their students on the importance of Veteran’s Day and what veterans have meant and still mean to this great nation.
Last year, COVID-19 put the brakes on some veterans programs, but not all of them.
More than 7,000 men and women from Oklahoma alone have made the supreme sacrifice.
Their names are inscribed on the Oklahoma Veterans Memorial Wall at the War Memorial in Veterans Woodland Park in Shawnee.
The memorial is an endeavor that was begun a number of years ago by a group of several men who dedicated themselves to making the memorial a reality.
They are and were veterans themselves.
Some of them died even before the memorial became a reality but it was their belief this was needed.
I’ve known lots of people who have served in the military.
My dad and a couple of his brothers and an uncle on mother’s side all served in World War II.
The uncle I was closest to joined the Air National Guard and served our country later.
I spent 13 years in the U.S. Army Reserve as a member of the 95th Division.
Last year in this space at this time I talked about a kid I knew whose dream was to become a Marine. He did just that.
He was killed eight months after he began his tour in Vietnam. He turned 19 just two months before his death.
His name is one of those inscribed on The Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
Each time I stand and place my hand over my heart and say the Pledge of Allegiance or listen to our national anthem being played, I think of my dad and all the other people I knew and know who have been willing to serve in this great nation.