Your thoughts on Veteran's Day...
Please read and make reference to the articles in your response. You may also wish to comment on any of the discussions you may have sat in on today.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/chris-marvin-for-todays-veterans-service-isnt-over-when-the-uniform-is-put-away/2013/11/10/98ad9ab0-48b9-11e3-a196-3544a03c2351_story.html?hpid=z3
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/keeping-veterans-off-the-unemployment-rolls/2012/05/06/gIQA5xoY6T_story.html
http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2013/11/help-veterans-by-taking-them-off-the-pedestal/281316/
Veteran's day is a great national which our country recognizes all the men and women who have fought for our country. I have always been appreciative for Veteran's Day because it gives me a chance to realize how many people have fought for our country. I have a few cousins and uncles who have fought in the military and I really am thankful that they all made it back. They all fought bravely for our country just like every other veteran has for this country, and Veteran's Day reminds me of this. Though it may not bring me to the point where I want to serve it does make me gracious that there are other people who are. There are so many great men and women who fight for America everyday and sometimes we forget about this, not intentionally, but through everyday life people tend to be busy and get wrapped up in other things that it slips their minds. Veteran's Day helps people remember and be grateful that they are busy with their own problems and not fearing if they are ever going to see their families again. Veteran's Day is one of America's greatest holidays and shows how special it is to be American.
ReplyDeleteI believe Veterans Day is a great way to honor those who have served and are serving in the war. Although, I do not think honoring our Vets should be limited to one day. We should honor them any time we get a chance too. Thank them; just take time to show your appreciation towards what they have done for this country, not just on Veterans Day. I disagree with some of the statements made by Chris Marvin, an army veteran, but not in a bad way. I think anyone who has served for our country deserves so much recognition. In the article “For today’s veterans, service isn’t over when the uniform is put away” Marvin states, “This Veterans Day, on behalf of my fellow Afghanistan and Iraq veterans, I say to the country: There’s no need to thank us. You’re welcome for our service. But take a minute to talk with us. Ask us where we served, learn about what we did in the military and find out what’s next in our lives.” I agree with the part where people should take more time to talk to them and too ask them about what they have done, but I think they should be thanked more than they believe they should. They’re heroes. Vets are not treated how they should be for what they have done for our country. Most of them come back from war without jobs, some even homeless. In the article, “A welcome-home gift for veterans: Jobs” the author Mullen says, “Every veteran deserves a chance to fight for his or her family.” I agree with this 100%. These people go through hell and back at war risking their lives for us and they come home and can’t even find a job, get money to support their families, or go to school. I just don’t believe Veterans are treated the way they deserve to be, we probably pass a few everyday not even knowing. Just take the time to thank them for what they've done, risking their lives for people they don’t even know, for you, for your family, for our country. These people have immense courage and we should be thankful for people who have this courage to go fight.
ReplyDeleteCayla F
Period 7
These articles made some very good points. And brought up the elephant in the room about the awkwardness Veterans may receive after returning home. The first article talked about not knowing what to say when someone thanked him for his service. This was very odd to me because personally I always feel awkward thanking someone for their service even though its been instilled in me as the right thing to do. The second article I agreed with 100%. It seemed a little cross to have these women and men fight for our country and have them be unemployed or homeless when they return? I believe there should be an organization dedicated to finding jobs for them and making sure they all get tested for disorders and get treatment if needed. I think it's wrong for a work place to not hirer a veteran because they are afraid of PSD or something like that. But in this economy I think it's unfair for a company to hirer someone just because they're a veteran. In the last article, I felt that the author thought of himself and fellow Veterans as a higher class than the rest of society. This angered me a little. Yes I think Veterans and people serving our nation now should be respected but they should not be put on a pedestal or consider themselves on one either. There are many things people who served have seen and experienced that other people will never get to but to think that makes you better than them is just making it harder for yourself. America, especially younger generations, are not that good at comprehending the sacrifice these people made. My generation especially was too young to understand the depths of 9/11. The war was over seas and very seldom did we hear news about things happening. Most of us never felt our nations pride. It's hard to compare wars because times have changed. I believe we should respect our Veterans especially on Veterans day
ReplyDeleteMaryColleen Whitney
period 1
Caroline M. 2
ReplyDeleteWorld War I was known at the time as “The Great War” which officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, in the Palace of Versailles. However, fighting ceased seven months earlier, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For that reason, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.” Veteran's Day is a day were we appreciate and thank who have served and who are serving our country today. It's the least we can do. Everyday is a day where we should give thanks to our veteran's. They put their lives on the line for our country everyday. And when they do come back to America they get put into these economic hardships with little or no help. Yes, we can say thank you all we want but that's not helping them when they return. They helped us, we should now help them.
Veteran's Day is a day to recognize those who risk their lives daily and for those who served for their country in past years. Everyday soldiers go into the battlefield to keep our country safe and so we can live free. In past wars our men fought for our freedom, and fought for what was wrong. The military men and women change people's lives. Not only ours but civilians of other countries. They make schools, build homes, and create laws that will protect the people from controlling governments. One article stated that when soldiers are thanked they feel awkward and dont know how to respond. Many times they say your welcome and people are shocked but such a response. The soldiers feel as if we are only saying thank you because it is our duty, they would much rather have a conversation about what they have done and be asked questions. I feel that every soldier should be treated with gratitude and respect. Both my grandfathers fought in the military, one in world war II and Korea. I love hearing their stories and about all the friends they made. I hope one day i can help this country in a great way like they and many other men have. I want to go to school to become a nurse and i havent really decided what type of nursing i want to go into, but i want to help the soldiers and veterans at a VA hospital. I want to be able to help and save our men that have fought and risked their lives to save me and my freedom.
ReplyDeleteMichaela S
period 3
Veteran's Day is a holiday that gets overlooked by many people in our country, but it has the most significant impact in our country. Veterans day is a time where we gather together and rise up to thank the people who fought for our freedom and risked their lives so that our lives will be better. Veteran's day is a day or remembrance. A day that people look back on what others have done, and we give those the upmost respect. Veterans are not ordinary people. These are people who devoted their lives to the better well being of the people around and the people that will live after them. If it wasn't for them, we wouldn't be where we are today. So thank you to all the veterans who have served and thank you to the people who continue to serve.
ReplyDeleteI once met an Iwo Jima survivor when I was volunteering at the hospital; he saluted the doctors when he left with a smile plastered on his face. As I did my simple routine questioning like, “How are you? How was your stay? Excited to go home?” this man was silent, I could tell he was pondering, he would nod to some questions, but when I saw the Iwo Jima hat, I said, “Thank you for your services.” Upon hearing these words, he started to cry. Now according to Chris Marvin, “The phrase has become a reflex for civilians who don’t what else to say;” however, my gratitude had been sincere, this is what was called respect. This man in just 15 minutes pushing him to his caretaker’s car showed me his gratitude for my politeness through his tears for he probably never really had someone tell him this in a while. Now, my point was that sure not all veterans like getting told a simple thank you, but most days of the year people live their lives unaware of anything about America’s militaries and veterans. Only when November 11 rolls around do people spend this one day to show gratitude for protecting our countries freedom. If we didn’t have this day, most Americans wouldn’t pay any attention. Sure we’re aware of the men and women across the ocean fighting and risking their lives for our country; however, many are unaware of the sacrifices these men and women have to make. They have to leave behind their families, let go of loved ones, face near death on a daily basis, and see all the horrors of war. People who go to war usually come home saying they are changed, and in reality, it’s the truth. In this country the odds we experience something as traumatic as what happens in Iran, Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, etc. is highly unlikely. These soldiers should be coming home to a family, and be able to get a job; however, so many veterans are homeless. Why do people need to make someone’s life harder? Veterans go through a rough time coming back to civilization, they’ve fought against hard opponents, and they have seen friends and family die on the battlefield, yet they can’t get a job? This is ridiculous, they help secure our freedom and in return we shun them and throw them on the streets. How is that fair? These people helped us be where we are today. I think it is only fair if we offer our gratitude and ease their transition by providing jobs. Maybe our economy isn’t so great, but how much money will it take to provide our veterans with something to start off with?
ReplyDeleteMiranda S Period 6
DeletePersonally, I believe that Veteran's Day is not a day to praise those that are better than us or to idolize those who have served; it is a day to respect and reflect on what people just like you or I have done to preserve our freedoms, despite this inconveniencing their lives. While some might say it should be an honor to be a soldier and to fight for your country, many people such as Alex Horton feel as though soldiers only receive a sense of isolation from societal norms and relationships whilst also missing out on key life events such as college by signing up for military service. Due to this inconvenience, I agree with Mike Mullen that there should be systems set-up in place for these returning troops, allowing them to ease back into the society they fought so hard to keep but can't understand. These men and women spend months fighting for the American people so I do believe it is our job to also fight for them when they return; something must be done to aid those suffering from mental ailments and to those who are just having trouble adjusting back to the life they voluntarily left behind.
ReplyDeleteJared Carlson
Period: 2
Veterans' Day* Ugh. I need to proofread better.
Delete- Jared again.
George Hartlin P.7
ReplyDeleteVeterans live a hard life everyday, they go through life with what they did feeling remorse and at the same time nobody really thanks them for their duty to country, until veterans day. Life for a veteran can be very difficult because they do not receive the recognition they so rightly deserve. Most veterans that are coming home from service are finding it harder to find a job even with are country slowly fixing its debt crisis. The nation’s unemployment rate is 8.1 percent. But the unemployment rate of our youngest military veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan hovers at a stunning 29 percent. When you read about Vietnam in US. History you learn that for the returning vets coming home there were no thank yous or respect shown towards the vets. Instead they were spit on and called names as well as beaten in some cases. People can be so cruel when it comes towards these predicaments but this is still not fair to those who served. Sometimes when I hear Veterans Day I think do we really care as a people or has this holiday just turned into a big hypocritical day to thank a vet but not really feel thankful for their service. My Grandfather always told me to respect a veteran no matter what they did because even if they were living on the street or seen as a bum they still had the courage to serve their country. I believe that it is important that BHS has school on Veterans day because it gives a way for students to be informed on the very important subject on those who served us and who do serve us on a daily basis. I feel that by doing this we educate more people on the struggles of a vet's normal day as well as the experiences they received over seas. Maybe someday Americans will fully understand the true meaning of thanking a vet for his or her service.
Both of these articles bring up good points of discussion. In the first article, the author discusses the idea that it is unnecessary to say "thank you" to our veterans. In someways I agree with him and that instead we should talk with them and listen to their stories. Even on other days, not just Veteran's Day, we should be able to appreciate and learn about the people who help to keep our country free. In the second article the author dicsusses the fact that lots of veterans are unemployed and homeless. I believe it is outrageous for the people who have helped keep our freedom and gone across seas to do the duties many other people don't want to do. Veterans should not have to suffer, since they are the ones responsible for our freedom and well-being in a national sense.
ReplyDeleteJessica M. Period 6
On Veteran's day I think it is great that we recognize our Veterans, and what they have done for our country. But it is sad knowing how hard it is for them to get a job and actually make money. Because of the post traumatic stress they get from war it is hard for them to go back and live normally. Which is sad to me. In the article A welcome Home gift for veterans: A job they say, "Consider that: Nearly one in three Americans who fought to defend us in distant lands cannot find a job here at home." That makes me sad that one and three Americans who fought for our country do not have a job. They are the reason we are free and can have these jobs. So why do they not have a job? We really should do more for the vets of our country. It is great what BHS does with them coming in and sharing stories, but we need to do more. Get them jobs.
ReplyDeleteAlla Miller period 2
Veterans Day is a time to acknowledge those how have sacrificed so much so that citizens of this country can live with freedoms. It is an important day to say the least. But, Veterans Day should not be the only day we come together as a country and praise these courageous people. It should be an everyday occurrence, and unfortunately, after reading these articles, that is not the case. After serving our country, many of these people are given little in return. An important point brought up in one article from the Washington Post was, "how to provide opportunities for our veterans to flourish after their service." Many are left with little after doing so much. Another article from the Washington Post stated, "Twenty percent of New Yorkers sleeping on the streets are veterans, according to the city’s Department of Homeless Services." This just goes to show how one day taken out of the year to remember these people is not enough. The least we can do as a country, is to make sure that veterans have homes and are given proper care after they have served. We have to do more than just thank them.
ReplyDeleteClaire Paterson
Period 3
Veteran's Day is a great holiday that has everyone think about and appreciate all the veterans in our country. These people who have fought in wars or just served in the military deserve the utmost respect because they lived a life that none of us can even imagine. I know many friends and family members who are veterans and who have fought in wars and having a holiday like Veterans's Day allows me to thank them for their service in the military. I don't believe enough people fully appreciate this holiday and just see it as another day off from school or work. In the first article it says how veterans, when returning from their duties, find it difficult to just say your welcome when told "Thank you" by multiple people. They believe it is best to sit down and have a talk with a Veteran rather than just thanking them for their service. I agree with this and always try to talk with a family member who is a Veteran.
ReplyDeleteKevin C.
Period 3
I think that there are a lot of different ways to approach Veterans' Day. But I believe it is important not to necessarily glorify war, because in my opinion, it shouldn't have to always come to war and violence. That being said, I think it is important to honor those who have served for our country in the most respectful way possible. In regards to having school on Veterans' Day, I do not believe that we should. My grandfather and his 5 brothers all went to war when they were in their 20s-30s together so in my family it is a day to honor all of them. My mom and I used to visit my grandfather and my great uncle and thank them for their service and you could tell they appreciated it more than a lot of things. And then we stopped having Veterans' Day off and I stopped being able to honor them on this important day. It is obviously important to appreciate every Veteran, but I think it is absolutely vital to honor your relatives who have served. Last year I did not come into school on Veterans' Day and decided to visit with my grandfather and I got more out of that visit than I ever could have at school. I think it is more important to connect with people you know who have served then to listen to people talk at school, because the closer to home it is, the more it really means. I don't like the idea of war, but when I know how proud it makes my family members, I realize that even though it is an awful thing, there is an awful lot of patriotism, community, and gratification that can come from it. I don't know if I will say thank you to every veteran I see in my life time, but I do know that I have made the veterans in my family feel acknowledged for their service, and I think that is what is most important.
ReplyDelete- Jennifer G, Period 3
Cassie Vaccaro, Period; 7
ReplyDeleteI believe that Veterans Day is a great way to honor the people that are currently serving in the army/navy/marines, or wherever they're serving. I think it is also VERY important to recognize the people who used to serve in old wars. Such as; Vietnam war, World War l, World War ll, and other big wars that are a big part of our natural history that we learn about in majority of our classes. Veterans Day also recognizes people who go out and fight others in the war, to protect their country. (The United States). I think that it is a good way to also celebrate our loved ones who have once served in a war, for those who are serving now, and for those who did serve already in the past years. Back to the articles, both of the articles bring up some really good talk about Veterans Day. I do feel that it is more important to meet up with loved ones that were once veterans, rather than talking to someone you aren't really that close with. For example, my grandfather; he's a veteran. He used to be in World War ll and he told me all about his experience there, and what it felt like to him, and i got to ask him a lot about it, and he answered a bunch of my questions that i had for him. Overall, Veterans Day in my opinion is a great day just to recognize what these people in our country are doing for us, and we all know they're fighting for us, but they are risking their lives just so we can live in freedom. To me, that is a real hero.
Ricky Pietruszka, Period:7
ReplyDeleteTo me; Veterans day is a time to recognize what people really do for us, and what people did do for our country in the past. To me, a lot of people don't actually realize what the people in the army, or old wars really are doing for us. They are sacrificing their lives for ours, and they may just give up their family members, so that we can keep ours, and live in freedom. I also believe that everyone should look at Veterans Day as a big thing. Its a day where the most people overlook it, but in my opinion its a day where we should take the time, to sit down for a minute or two, and pray for those people who are fighting in war, and thank the ones who came home safely, and were lucky enough to even come at all. In both of the articles it had some really good points about what Veterans Day really does mean to our country in general. I think we do enough for our Vets, but i think that we should just thank them a little bit more, and preferably NOT just on one solid day, we should thank and think about our Veterans everyday, and think about what they're really doing and what they're sacrificing for us. It has a big meaning, and to me, i think that every Vet should get the thank you that they need for serving our country.
Alyssa Taddei, P:8
ReplyDeleteI believe that Veterans Day is a really good day for people all around the country. To me, it means a lot. For example, my friends grandfather was in World War ll, and he even got to tell me about his experience also. It's a day where a lot of people over look the event, but a lot of people need to take a second and realize what these Veterans are doing for us, and what they do to help our country. Veterans Day is a time to acknowledge those how have sacrificed so much so that people of this country can live with freedom, and freedom rights. I mean, thats what freedom is, right? In the first article, a person says that it is unnecessary to say thank you to a Veteran that served in the war. To me; that point is completely off, and uncalled for..this is because we SHOULD thank people who risk their lives everyday just so we can have rights in our lives. I think that comment that the author wrote was not accurate because, they basically are fighting for us, and they may not even see their own families again, and i mean without Veterans what would our country even be? We wouldn't have any chance at all at freedom one day in the near future. In my opinion every single veteran should get a thank you EVERY DAY, not just on Veterans Day. These people helped us be where we are at in todays daily life. I think it is only fair if we offer our thanks to them every single day we see a Vet, or see someone that used to be in the war or that is still serving now a days, and if we have a family member who was in the past wars we should even thank them every day if we can make that possible. Every Veteran, is a great person in my opinion.
Emily Johnson, Period: 7
ReplyDeleteVeterans day is a day where we should all take a step back and realize what our Veterans are seriously doing for us. They take a big commitment in fighting for our country to help it get freedom, and help us not fight anymore, and just have peace around the whole world, not just in some places. In the article, it states in one part that it says, "Every Vet deserves to serve for his or her family" and i agree with what this person says because, they do deserve to serve for their families, they really do. Because, in my opinion wouldn't you want your family to have freedom, and if every family member at least starts fighting for their families, then eventually we could have peace. I believe that Veterans day is a day where we can share our love and compassion towards the Vet's that actually did come home. I think that everyone should find a Vet on Veterans Day and thank them. Everyone had a chance at school on Veterans Day to hear from a Vet or see one, so every one should of at least said thank you, or good going, or happy that you made it home safe. In my opinion, in general, every Vet is great, and should be recognized!!
Veteran's Day is an important tribute for all those who have served and a day for Americans to recognize their commitment and sacrifice for our country. Every year on Veteran's Day I am reminded of this service and remain thankful for all they have done for our country. Many of the veterans I heard Monday were very patriot about the United States and hopeful for our generation. It saddens me that our veterans are unable to re-enter the workforce when they come home or receive the care they need. This is a problem we need to fix. I agree with the article from the Washington Post in saying veterans offer tremendous skill and "they are responsible, hardworking, and loyal. They possess strong leadership skills and a work ethic that would be valued at any place of business." We need to provide service to those who have risked their lives to serve our country.
ReplyDeleteEleanor Hall
Period 3
Michael Caminear Period 6
ReplyDeleteBefore I even read these two articles, I went into it already thinking that Veteran's Day is an extremely important holiday during which we need to reflect upon what they have done for this country. Therefore, after reading this reading this, my feelings about Veteran's Day were enhanced even further.
The first thing I learned, that was pretty shocking, was that veterans already know that they are thanked and appreciated by society. While they appreciate all of the little "thank you"s and everything, they really don't mean anything to them. In their eyes, it is just showing that people are trying to vicariously serve their country through the veterans who actually went through the trouble of serving their country. What they really want is a mature conversation with somebody who wants to know specifically why and how they served in our nation's military. In other words, they want something more meaningful than just a "thank you" because that is sort of given.
In addition to giving Veterans more respect, it is indispensable that we try our best to make sure that Veterans are financially secure when they return home to their families. They at least deserve the most basic necessities for living after serving for their country.
In all, what I will take away from these articles is that veterans need our help as much as we needed theirs and, now, I will know what to do better when I confront a veteran in person.
Veteran's Day is an extremely important holiday in my opinion, because not only does it allow us to recognize what our veterans have done for us, but it also gives us an opportunity to appreciate and give thanks to the brave men and women who have sacrificed so much for our country. Personally I was fascinated by the veterans that came to our school, and showed my appreciation by trying to get to know as many of them as possible. The second article is concerned with the veterans not being able to re-enter the workforce upon returning home, and I believe that this is incredibly unfair and cruel. After serving, fighting, and giving their all for our country, they deserve better. They gave up so much for our country, and when they return they get nothing for their dedication. It deeply saddens me when I hear this, and my heart goes out to them. We need to do something to solve this problem as soon as possible, so when the veterans return they come home to an appreciative place, and not one where they are neglected.
ReplyDeleteAidan D, per 6
Veteran's Day is one of the most important holidays celebrated in the United States. It is not centered around gift giving and greediness, but remembering and applauding those who have served for our nation. It is interesting that the first article discusses how many veterans feel uncomfortable when they are thanked for their service. It is difficult to believe that "Thank you for your service" has become the expected statement when addressing veterans. It is strange that it is not more commonly a conversation with veterans about their service or about the veterans themselves. It is also shocking that the second article discusses the difficulties veterans face when returning to the U.S. trying to find jobs. It is terrible that so many of the brave people that risked their lives abroad for the people in this nation are the ones living on the streets. These brave people deserve the respect of those back home. On Veteran's Day it is so important to appreciate what is done for the people in this nation so that they can live freely.
ReplyDeleteThese articles shed some light on what it actually means to be a veteran and how they themselves react to Veterans Day as a whole. In the Washington Post Christ Marvin said, "Post-9/11 veterans are asking to be engaged, empowered and held to high expectations. We yearn to be told by a grateful public that our talents are still needed here at home." When soldiers return from overseas they are hopeful that the skills they accumulated throughout the war will still be useful in American society. Simply saying thank you doesn't seem to be what veterans want to hear. They want to be encouraged to re-enter the workforce knowing that their skills will be useful and appreciated. Another quote from Marvin said, "There’s no need to thank us. You’re welcome for our service. But take a minute to talk with us. Ask us where we served, learn about what we did in the military and find out what’s next in our lives." These veterans also want to be acknowledged for their own personal triumphs and not just thanked in the same generic way as every other soldier. Every person who goes to war has a unique experience that is worth hearing and attempting to understand.
ReplyDeleteCassidy McCarns
Period 3
Like many of the people on here have said already, Veteran's Day is a great and important holiday. It is meant to honor those who gave up so much for our country, getting seriously injured, developing ptsd, and many even giving their lives. I think that it is important to recognize them on this holiday, and let them know how grateful we are, that we are aware of what they risked for us. On the topic of the first article, I think it is a good idea to do some more to help our Veterans get jobs when they come back home, as it said "Every veteran deserves the chance to provide for his or her family" especially considering how their service gives us the chance to have a good life and have the chance to provide for our own families. As far as the second article goes, I do understand the idea that they're putting forth, but I feel like these people need to be honored and recognized for what they did. That doesn't have to mean necessarily asking them questions about the war, or things that could bring back bad memories, but just saying 'thank you' if you see them somewhere. So they know that you appreciate what they did.
ReplyDeleteleah braley period 6
ReplyDeleteI think that Veterans Day is a small reminder the debt we owe to our soldiers for their sacrifice in order to protect our freedom and that the author of the first article is correct in saying that people have begun to feel that thanking veterans is a substitute for being patriotic and doing something for the good of our country. It is upsetting that some veterans come home to unemployment we have to think of ways to help them restart their lives when they return home, this is a small and proactive way of thanking the brave men and women who fight in order to preserve our freedom.
ReplyDeleteHannah Beatty pd.6
Veterans Day is where people pay respects to our brave men and women who have sacrificed many things for our country. Wether its Time away From their families, time away from school. Their job, and sometimes unfortunately they sacrifice their lives so that we, United States citizens can live a happy and safe life. On this Veterans Day, we give thanks to those who served, but how do we do this? dDo we just thank them, for example: "Thank You for your service", do we give them gifts like money or food, or do we not say anything at all? according to the first article, veterans almost would have you rather say nothing to them at all. if you walk up to them as a normal civilian and shake their hand thanking them for their service, it puts the vets in an awkward situation. they're only response really is,"You're welcome" and to them that sort of gives them an uneasy feeling. Veterans are not serving this nation because they want gratitude and want to be classified as heroes. They Volunteer! Their life for the freedom of our land because they feel as if its their job. They don't want to be thanked for their job, do they want you to be appreciative, yes, but there is other ways of showing appreciation rather than just blatantly saying thank you. Because truthfully no amount of thank you's could ever amount to the things they did and saw over seas. Veterans do not need to be thanked they need to be heard, their voices and their stories. if we all take a few minutes out of our day and have a conversation with a veteran, we will then really truly know what the actual definition of Veterans Day is.
ReplyDeleteVeteran's day is a day which I consider necessary. Since two of the articles made it clear that veterans feel awkward when being randomly approached and thanked, it seems fitting that we just have one day where appreciation of there service is expressed. As far as why they don't know how to react to spontaneous thanks, Chris Marvin really gives a good reason for why this is. He states that modern veterans weren't drafted, so you're thanking them for something they chose to do. Its almost comparable to thanking a cashier just for being a cashier. Thanking people who were drafted, then makes a lot more sense, considering some men and women were put into life-threatening situations, whether that's what they wanted or not.
ReplyDeleteThe topic of veteran poverty isn't directly related to veteran's day, but I'll give my opinion anyway, seeing how it's still a significant issue. The problem with a lot of young people going into the services is that they used the military as a way of moving through earlier schooling without a worry of getting into a good college. A lot of young people see a career in the military as a very possible way to spend their life. The issue with that is that so many of them only serve active duty for a relatively short time, and come back to standard American life expecting some kind of work. Since getting a job is nearly impossible without a degree, these young servicemen/women need to go to college. Many of them do, but end up with college debt which stays with them even longer than if they had not served. As I stated earlier, military careers are no longer a forced service, but a selected job. Consequently, I don't really see how a veteran could expect to only serve a few years and easily fortune afterwards.
This previous veterans day really made me think about the soldiers that risk their lives every day to keep our country free. Many men and women in my family have been or are part of the U.S. Navy and my uncle just arrived back from Afghanistan this summer after being away for almost a year and one of the articles I read made me think about this. How do I address their serving the country and do I thank them? The article by Chris Marvin explained it very well. Marvin says, "There’s no need to thank us. You’re welcome for our service. But take a minute to talk with us. Ask us where we served, learn about what we did in the military and find out what’s next in our lives." I liked his advice because I think many are unclear as to what to say to a soldier when they see them. He lets us know that its okay to talk how their time spent overseas and that it means more to them asking about it and learning about their experience than thanking them for what they did.
ReplyDeleteElena Muniz Period 3
Holly Parker
ReplyDeleteperiod2
Veterans Day is a way to honor and show respect for those who have served and are serving in the army. We are able to appreciate the people who have put their lives on the line in order to provide us with ours. Society is very grateful towards Veterans, but we need to not only verbally thank them but also show them our appreciation by helping them when they return home. Many people coming from the war have faced traumatic issues that damaged them mentally. The article, a Welcome-Home Gift for Veterans: Jobs states, “Addressing the challenges of our veterans must be a national priority.” These brave individuals come back from the war and not struggle to support themselves and their families. Some people even end up homeless and on the streets. After everything that they have done for us, we need to return the favor and get them the treatment that they deserve. This holiday should be celebrated all of the time, not just one day.
Like many other students in our school, I was very disappointed when I found out that we would again have school on Veteran's Day this year. I then, however, stopped and considered why. When we as highschoolers receive a day off from school, we often see it as just that; we do not stop and consider why the day is being given to us. After hearing the plans of the school and learning that they intended to use the day as a day to educate us on Veteran's Day, and therefore giving us a deeper appreciation for the day, I was excited. I entered the day expecting to gain a better understanding of what our veterans went through and go through everyday, and gain a deeper understanding of these brave men and women. However, for the second time, I was severely disappointed. While we did have the assembly after second period, I felt that these were blanket statements that didn't provide for a deeper understanding or appreciation for the subject. While this is fine if supplemented with smaller groups or ways to meet the veterans and talk to them individually, it is not enough if it is solely the broad discussion. Even though these smaller groups and individual interaction was offered, it was not easily accessible. Not a single teacher of mine allowed me to attend any of the smaller groups and I was unable to attend any of these events. Something that also bothered me was that the school promised that we would learn about the veterans and why they are so important to us. Again, in none of my classes did this occur, and it was simply just another day of school. As stated by one of the articles, these men and women don't want the quick "Thank you for your service" that so many offer, they want social interaction. When this is promised to us by the school and used to justify us having a day of school, and then not allowing for it to happen, it is just as bad as us sitting at home and doing nothing.
ReplyDeleteVeterans Day is a day that we allow ourselves to sit and really think about the service that has been done for us. We'll think about it from time to time on a constant basis but we wont really think about it. Like the first article mentioned we'll believe that a simple, "thank you for your service", is enough. Yes, it's polite and a kind thing to say but it's said so much that it's almost meaningless. We shouldn't have to have a national holiday to help us think about those that have served. We should do it of our own volition. In my case, my grandfather, my uncle, and my sister have all served, so for me it's a common subject. But I know that if my family weren't so military oriented I probably wouldn't think about it as much as I do. Veterans day is an important time that we can actually take a second and learn about the people that served, not just thank them for it.
ReplyDeleteRay Munden Period 2
Veterans Day is an important day to honor and show respect for those who have served our country in the armed forces. The first article mentions that civilians', meaning a non-veteran, instinctive response to veterans is, "Thank you for your service" and that veterans don't know how to respond to this because often times the response is a societal reflex and insincere. While this isn't true in all cases, I think Chris Marvin, the author, makes a good point. The point of Veterans' day is to show our appreciation for all the sacrifices our veterans have made in their lives in order to protect us, the civilian. And I feel that often times most people don't think about it this way and thats why our "thank you's" often come off as insincere. In addition, I believe it is especially necessary to show our thanks to our veterans' given that they are suffering more hardships now than many of them ever expected. Upon return from service many veterans find it difficult to find a job and as a result, many of them are unemployed and even homeless in major cities across the nation. I think that we as a nation have to change our mindset and not see veterans' as a burden on society but as useful members of society whose skills and abilities from the battlefield could help move our country forward.
ReplyDeleteJustin C. Period 3
Jackson Mariotti period 6
ReplyDeleteVeterans Day is a day when we honor the men and women who have protected our nation. Yet, our respect should not be kept to one day. It should be constant, and one way we could really show our respect is by going further than just saying "thank you". As Chris Marvin points out, saying thank you on Veterans' day is just another social norm that people do. It has lost a lot of meaning. We need to show our thanks in a better way. Also, it is unacceptable that so many veterans are unemployed. I'm not saying businesses should be forced to hire veterans, but it would be nicer if they did. They have useful skills and a great mindset for a workplace. The only hinderance would be a possible PTSD but that is not every case, and it is unfortunate that a person would not be able to get a job because they were mentally scarred in battle.
I believe that Veteran's Day is a day to commemorate and appreciate those who have served and died for the independence and freedom of our country. I believe that it is almost egotistical for one to say, "Thank you for your service" to a veteran, because it shows that you are fulfilling your own needs-not the veterans. I always found that saying "Thank you" was the most generic way to show gratitude. In the article, it states,"All I mean is that I am proud to have fought for my country. But often the thank you means more to the person offering it than to the person being thanked." Saying thanks has become the most generic way to show gratitude, and it most definitely does not serve justice to those who have fought for our country. I feel that to truly express one's gratitude, it is better to ask questions about the veterans life in the military and about the war, to show that one is interested and grateful.
ReplyDeleteAfter I read the article, "A welcome-home gift for veterans: Jobs," it made me realize how unfairly veterans are treated in the United States. It is unfortunate that 1 in 3 veterans from the Iraq and Afghanistan War are unemployed, especially because they have found for the liberty and freedom of our nation. The fact that they are not given the opportunity to be employed astounds me. It is absolutely unacceptable that about 20% of those who live in the streets of NY are veterans. It sickens me to know that such brave and courageous fighters are degraded in our society. I think that the problem is, most of the men and women who come back from combat or war after 9 years, may not have the education needed to get a decent job. I think that they should be given financial support after coming back from the war and given education needed to pursue a career.
Most of the veterans also have post-traumatic stress or depression, to the extent where 18 soldiers commit suicide. To those who have these clinical conditions should be treated after the trauma he/she experiences.
I believe that words do no demonstrate or show gratitude- actions do. By aiding the veterans with employment and making sure they live off the streets, I think that they would feel more honored than a simple 'thank you'. Not just on veteran's day, but every single day, we should be thankful for freedom and liberty that we are given because of our veterans.
I believe Veteran's Day is a great way for the whole nation to show their appreciation towards all the men and women who have fought for our country. I also believe that saying "thank you" to a soldier is not said so that person feels better about themselves. People are simply showing that they are actually grateful for the services of the people they're saying thank you to. Although, I am sure there are people out there that only say thank you because they don't know what else to say and they believe they are doing their part. For example, in the article "Chris Marvin: For today's veterans, service isn't over when the uniform is put away" from the Washington Post, Marvin talks about citizens giving insincere thanks and writes,"Society has normalized this practice, with the result that some Americans consider uttering thanks to be a fulfillment of their patriotic duties". This I'm sure is true for many people, but it is also false for others. Saying thanks to our veteran's is the least we can do after everything they have done, and saying thank you is better than saying nothing at all, whether it is sincere or not. Also, it is unfortunate that many veterans are unemployed, but if there are simply no jobs to be given there isn't much of a solution that can be acted on to help veterans. There are many people out there that are hardworking and have great ethic, and there should be enough jobs for everyone, but unfortunately there isn't.
ReplyDeleteGabby White
Period 3
Ahmad Zaidi
ReplyDeletePeriod 1
Even though veterans day is a great way to honor our fallen heroes and people who are still serving our country but i am afraid that we are not nearly doing enough for them. Every year people get off the military and then they can't even find a job. For example in the article "A welcome-home gift for veterans: Job's " it says "Twenty percent of New Yorkers sleeping on the streets are veterans, according to the city’s Department of Homeless Services." So we need to help the veterans economically if we really want to honor them because helping them economically will help them for life instead of just one day of praise like veteran's day.
Veterans day is a great day to honor those who served in battle. I think it is kind of hard to go up to a soldier and say "thank you", but when we have veterans day it is like all the people in the USA are saying thank you together, and then the veterans know that we appreciate them and what they have done for the country. Of course saying thank you in private is also very good, but it doesn't really honor all those out there. Therefore veterans day is a good day.
ReplyDeleteAlso we got to think about the veterans and what they are doing after their lives in the army. 7% of the US population are veterans, and many of these doesn't have a job. I think that we got to take care of this, because these people suffered in wars so that we could have a good life after them. By not giving them jobs, we don't show our appreciation, and this is not acceptable in our society today. I think we need to change this now.
period 6
Christian Frich
I believe Veteran's Day is a great way to honor all of the veterans that gave so much to fight for our freedom. There is no way we can ever truly repay them, so having a day to honor them is a start. Also, I believe if I ever meet a veteran, I should thank them for their sacrifices to keep our country safe, as veterans should be honored year round since they were on duty year round. After reading this article, I felt bad that 1 in 3 veterans are unemployed. That is very unfortunate because of what they did for our country, they should be treated as heroes, not like homeless people.
ReplyDeleteEvan Seward
Period2
It's clear that veterans day has lost some of its meaning over the years. People have become detached with the true understanding of what it is to serve. They say "thank you" and shake hands with veterans, often because they just don't know what else to do. The phrase has been worn down and tossed around for years. Many veterans, as seen in the articles, wish for people to be more sincere when offering gratitude. They seek for people to get a little more engaged, ask where they served and what their plans are now that they are veterans and not active servicemen. But even a real, sincere conversation isn't going far enough to thank our veterans. We need to do something that will truly benefit them; we need to give them job opportunities. The men and women who serve our country take years out of their life to do so. They put their whole life aside to serve, and some of them never get the chance to resume it. With that being said, it's unfair that a veteran isn't able to find a job after returning home.
ReplyDeleteAaronRad
Per 3
“Most people today play a minimal role in national defense beyond expressing gratitude to those who have served on their behalf.” I completely agree with Marvin (1st article). Me, myself as a civilian don’t have much to say and I don’t know how to honor them than just saying “Thank You for your service.” We don’t know the right way to thank the veterans. However, showing solely gratitude isn’t enough for the veterans. They have faced several traumatic wars that have impacted them very personally leaving them in a different mindset. While we heard and watched the news, the Veterans have actually fought and lived the war(s). They deserve better lives than living off the NYC streets. One of the articles mentioned how the veteran suicidal rate is higher than death during the war. It’s very upsetting to see the heroes who offered their life for the country to live in such dreadful conditions.
ReplyDeleteThe way we honor the veterans, isn't completely our generation’s fault. We were sort of told to honor that way. Also, we never grew up in a severe war condition, like WWII. People who were present in those situations are probably more influenced and affectionate towards the veterans. America has changed a lot since then and while we were fitting in with new inventions and technologies, on the way we forgot to provide care and support for the veterans as civilians. The best we can do as civilians is spending some time talking to them as Marvin mentioned. We should learn from them and get to know them. While as a nation, including the government we should promote more jobs and employment. (It’s quite stunning how everything ends up in unemployment, from poverty to education to veterans).
~Shilpa R Period 3
In today's day and age almost everything we do is programmed into our systems. we systematically wake up, take a shower, brush our teeth, eat breakfast, and then go to school. Once at school we go from every class without much change. Between classes we greet the same people with the same generic hello everyday. This is why it doesn't surprise me that people only say "Thank you for your service." This is because people don't know any better. Its the same as saying thank you when someone holds a door open for you. I personally have a close friend over in the deserts of the middle east and the only true way that he feels thanked is personal experiences shared with him. To do this, I write letters about life back home because it makes them feel much more connected. That is what the veterans deserve on Veterans Day, connection. They need to come home with another job ready to connect them back into the working world, they deserve it.
ReplyDeleteSonny G. Pr. 6
I agree with everybody commenting, Veterens day is a great day to honor those who served in our armed forces to fight for our freedom, our pride and our nation. After reading both articles , I had different views, while I believe that when people say " thank you " to a veteren, they mean it fully. But not many people know what to say, which I think is a societal thing. Everybody says " Thank You" because those people mean if, and it is easier to say that than anything else. While their could be ways of communicating with Veterens, I think saying " Thank You" is a good way to honor those who served.
ReplyDeleteDalton e
Period 3
I think Veteran's day is very important to try to remember the meaning behind. A lot of people, including myself, sometimes forget the reasoning and importance behind it. Maybe that's why we tend to just say "Thank you" for their services, because we don't think about do. Just as the article says, we should, . "Take a minute to talk with us. Ask us where we served, learn about what we did in the military and find out what’s next in our lives." I'm sure that is much more meaningful than just a "thank you". If we took the time to think about what they went through and what the may be dealing with now, the hardships out of service, we would probably have much more to say than just a thank you. Veterans should be highly respected and we should all remember to do so.
ReplyDeleteEmma S
Period 3
I agreed with the articles that I read, Veterans are great people who deserved to be honored. We have a day set aside to honor them and their service, we are thankful but like Mike Mullen said are gratitude isn't enough. Even when we say thank you as I read in the first article it may not be as genuine as it should be but just something to say at a loss of words. These are people who lose their lives everyday , and the youngest come home with post traumatic stress with no treatment, and no jobs. I was shocked to discover the statistic that 18 of them commit suicide every day more than 6500 a year. This is just as many as we lose yearly on the battle ground. I don't exactly know how or what can do to help show our appreciation and support them but I do believe it is necessary to do more
ReplyDeleteRael W
Period 3
Stephanie Durso period:7
ReplyDeleteIt seems that Veterans day is the only day we actually show appreciation to our veterans. Saying thank you because you feel you have to event though most of the time the veteran does not feel they deserve. It feels like we are supposed to say that to them, but to do it everyday. We need to not just say thank you, but show them you really mean it. Helping Veterans out year round not just one day. We should want to help them not just because it is a moral obligation. Saying thank you may help you, but showing your support is better. Mean what you say don't just say it. Our society needs to realize that Veterans should be cared for or appreciate just on one day it should continue all year long.
Every year Veterans day comes around and many students go up to them and say,"thank you." Yes, thank you is nice but it didn't accrue to me about how it makes some Veterans feel until this article. It would be more meaningful if students sat down and talked to Veterans. It isn't only beneficial to students but also enjoyable for the Veterans. We can learn more about U.S history from Veterans that's if we take time and talk to them. It's important that we let the Veterans know how appreciative we are for there service.
ReplyDeleteRachel C
period 6
I think that the article brings up a very interesting point. It never occurred to me that saying "thank you" could seem condescending, or that it could give veterans a feeling of being less successful than they used to be. The author suggests that instead of trying to thank them in the ways we currently do, with parades and honors at football games, we should be, "more concerned about how to provide opportunities for our veterans to flourish after their service." It's hard for returning veterans to adjust back to normal life, which makes sense. Now, I see that our thanks don't always help the process. It is best if we can talk to them about their experiences, and be genuinely grateful. Jessica L Period 6
ReplyDeleteThe truth is that we ad american citizens no longer show the proper respect towards the people that defend this country. We say thank you for your service, but what is the deeper meaning behind that? For most people I do not think it has any. It is simply something that we say to avoid saying nothing. Times have changed from 50 years ago. The nation was much more involvef in the war, and when our soldiers came home at the end of World War 2 the whole nation celebrated, nowadays i do not know if the whole nation even knows that the war in Iraq exists. So if we do not even know where the war is going on, how can we appreciate them? We need to raise awareness for the war that is going on and help people to give soldiers the respect they truly deserve. People should be honored for servicing their country, whether it be on the front linemor here at home. They are willing to pay the ultimate sacrifice for people that they don't know, just because they are fellow americans. Mike B
ReplyDeleteVeterans Day is a day that honors those who have served or are serving the country. After reading the articles, I realized that there can be other things that can be done in order to really allow the Veterans to realize that we are appreciative of what they have done for us. For example, in the article it says "Take a minute to talk with us. Ask us where we served, learn about what we did in the military and find out what’s next in our lives." Therefore, having a conversation with a Veteran can not only allow us to learn something we may not have known before but it can also be much more meaningful to the Veteran than a simple "thank you". It is important to take out time for those who sacrifice their own lives for us. Having a conversation with a Veteran is no where equal to what they do for us, however, it is a kind way of showing them that we are grateful.
ReplyDeleteHarjot B Period 8
Daniel Lalor, period 2
ReplyDeleteVeteran's Day is a time for us to appreciate and honor the men and women who served and sacrificed for our freedom. In his article, Alex Horton stresses his belief that the American people have put Veterans on a pedestal and categorized them as the valiant hero or the shameful stigma as the mentally unstable warrior. With this in mind, I believe that it is essential for those wishing to honor veterans to remember that they are human beings and share the same complexity as the rest of us. If we look to current and past conflicts such as the Vietnam War, it's clear that not every soldier did the right thing or believed in what he was fighting for.
Experiences and prospective vary from man to man: some saw humanity in its greatest light through brotherhood and self-sacrifice, while many others saw the darkest aspects of man such as atrocity or torture. These men and women lived through or died in extraordinary events and were forced to stand their ground in the face of great adversity.
Through loss and misfortune, they had to fight the urge to fall into despair and had to instead transcend.
In my eyes, to endure such an internal battle demands respect and thoughtful consideration of the stories these men and women have to offer.
Veteran's Day is day to truly honor those who have served to maintain our freedom. We often think that the best way to show one's respect is by thanking a veteran. Veteran's know we are grateful, "There’s no need to thank us. You’re welcome for our service. But take a minute to talk with us. Ask us where we served, learn about what we did in the military and find out what’s next in our lives." Veteran's want to know that we care and truly appreciate them and the best way to show that is through communication. The most respect you can give to the men and women have served is your ability to listen and take in what they have to say, what stories they have to offer. Simply saying thank you doesn't do justice in comparison to what they have given up and gone through to protect our freedom, our way of life. It so unfortunate to see and hear how those who have given all of their being for our protection, come home and are not even promised jobs, and in most cases are unable to find a job. We are all so thankful for a our soldier and veterans on Veteran's Day, but day to day we still allow them to go jobless and homeless. These brave men and women leave everything they have behind to go out and protect our country to ensure that we can live the lives we have, and they come home to such poor conditions. Of course it is important to show your honor and respect to those who have served on Veteran's Day, but it is even more important to show them that respect and honor everyday 365 days a year. Words can not describe how grateful I am for those that have served, I know that I would never be able to do the things that they do and leave behind everything that I know and love. I think its really important to show them how much we care not just telling them how much we care. Actions speak louder than words. This Veteran's Day and for the rest of my life I plan to truly show my respect and make a point to listen and ask questions to the veterans I know!
ReplyDeleteHailey Nelson
Period 3
Veterans are people that risked their life to defend and protect freedoms of not only Americans but people abroad. They deserve upmost respect every day of the year because they risked everything for America and it's people. Veteran's day is a day where people get the chance to truly thank all that they have done and actually appreciate them by talking to them and recognize their hardships. After reading these articles, it is clear to me how much this day means to them and from this day forward, I will make a point to thank the men and women that served for our country.
ReplyDelete-Alec Carlson Period 8
Veterans Day is a way to honor the people in the military for what they have done and are doing and the sacrifices they have made, including their lives, to ensure our way of life. Whether you agree or disagree with the concept, people in the military have a belief they are protectors of our country. I believe Veterans Day is a way to say "Thank You" to those who have served and are serving. So November 11th should definitely be a day to honor and thank the ones who have served/serving for our country because they deserve it.
ReplyDelete-vicky seok period 6
Thanking veterans should never become something like a broken record; every time we say thanks to the veterans it should be sincere and appreciative, not just blurted out because we feel that it "fulfills us of our patriotic duties" or makes us a better person. Should we not say thanks at all? I dont think its rude to not say thank you, but as the author said, instead we should spend our time asking the vets about their lives, experiences, and stories. For a vet to say "you're welcome" probably came off as surprising because it seemed like he took our "thank you" as a sincere comment, not just like a phrase were throwing out without even thinking. So to say thank you to a vet i think we need to remember that some may really appreciate it, and like the author, others may just want someone to talk with them.
ReplyDelete-Cara B Period 3
I believe that a veteran should have more of an advantage to getting a job than any other ordinary person in America. That veteran has risked his/her life for this country and they come back to be jobless? That doesn't make sense to me and isn't quite logical. Giving a veteran a job would reduce the unemployment rate by a lot. Also, employing veterans could reduce the suicide numbers everyday, considering that veterans are a big portion of that percentage. This would also reduce the amount of conflict going on in America especially since this is such a big topic. I think someone who has risked there life for America should at least have a job or a steady income when they get back home. Overall, I believe that veterans from all wars should have a home, job, and money to be able to have a stable life for what they have done for our country.
ReplyDeleteNick T. Per 8
I think that continuing to appreciate all that the countries veterans do for American is extremely important. Those are people who have risked losing their lives to provide safety for our country that many time people take for granted. And out of all days, veterans day should be an occasion where people go out of their way to say a meaningful thank you to Americas protectors. I also agree with the fact that there should be more available treatment for soldiers arriving home from over sees for post traumatic stress disorder. It is a serious problem when soldiers returning home cant receive help to overcome all they have witnessed and lived through no matter how terrifying. Although, I don't believe that the soldiers should get any special treatment over others when attempting to join the workforce. I understand that 29% unemployment rate for veterans is large and may seem unfair, but if you consider the same situation with the Mexican race, the percent unemployment is either the same or greater. Other Americans also need jobs to survive and I believe that veterans deserve the jobs over others only if the are actually more qualified. And in many cases that might be true because of their training in the military, but not always. The occupation playing field should remain even.
ReplyDeleteAlyssa Case
Period 3
I believe that most people in the United States are very appreciative of our troops that defend our country. However, there is always room to improve the respect that we show them. As the first article said "We should not just say thank you, but take some time to ask about their service and where they served." I believe that this little change would show soldiers so much more respect then they are given now. Also, in the second article it mentioned how troops should be treated better by society by making it easier for them to get a job when they come home. I agree with this idea because I do not feel that it is right that soldiers do so much for our country and yet we treat them like crap when they get home. In my opinion, I believe they at least deserve a place to live. Overall, soldiers do so much for our country and the least we can do is treat them with more respect and make sure they are living an adequate lifestyle so they aren't living on the streets suffering.
ReplyDeleteOwen K per 8
Jonathan W, period 6
ReplyDeleteI believe Veteran's Day is a great way to show appreciation for our veterans. I agree with the first article, however, that there are better ways to go about this than just thanking them. It would come off as much more sincere if you asked a veteran to tell you his stories and experiences. That shows that you’re actually interested and care about what they’ve done. It’s also beneficial for the people who ask because they can learn a lot about our country and gain even more appreciation. To add, I feel that veterans deserve either some guaranteed home or a job when they return. They should be treated well considering they gave up everything to protect our country.
I personally believe that veterans day is a day to honor the soldiers who fought for our freedom and who risk their lives every single day for us. Every single day soldiers go on to the battlefield to give their lives up for us or to even risk their life for us just for our freedom. The women and men in the military change our life every single day. They dont just change our lives but they change other peoples lives in other countries. A soldier is a true hero. They should be respected every single day for what they do for us. Because with out them we wouldnt be living the life we are living now.
ReplyDeleteKarisma Patel
Period 7
Veterans day is a significant holiday in which we celebrate to honor all of the troops that fought in war. I believe we all should take time to reflect upon these men who devoted their lives to our freedom and making our country a safer place for us. Many kids have the day off from school and usually don't do anything to recognize the holiday and its meaning. However, at Branford High, we have some of the Veterans come to our school and we listen to their personal experiences of the war. We get to learn new things about the war and ask questions. I think its something that all schools should have because its more meaningful. Kids get to actually learn about the lives of Veterans instead of staying home and watching tv. They get more out of it. Also what people don't realize is how many Veterans are homeless. These people put their lives at steak for us and we don't always give back. I think it's important for us to help support our homeless veterans and take time to thank them.
ReplyDeleteAmy B. period 8
Veterans day is an important holiday for me to celebrate because it is the one day a year where we can celebrate the veterans who are still with us today. It is astonishing what I hear about many veterans being homeless after their service or being treated poorly by the government. This day also brings these issues back to our attention so that we can act upon it. This holiday is very close to my heart and is more important than Christmas, Easter, or any materialistic holiday.
ReplyDeleteTyler M.
Period 7
I think that veteran's day is very important. We celebrate it to honor all of the veterans and the veterans that have passed away. I think that it's a good idea to have school on veteran's day like we do. Having the veterans come in and talk with us makes us really appreciate them like we should. We all learn new things from each of the veterans and their experiences. We should at least come to school and listen to what they have to say. I think that we should honor them every chance we get. They risk their own lives everyday to fight for our freedom. We should give them tons of respect. If we have the day off, I know more than 90% of the kids at the school will be doing nothing to honor the veterans.
ReplyDeleteTaylor Miller
Period 7
I believe that Veterans Day is the most important day because we recognize all the men and women that lost their lives fighting for our freedom, also all the men and women that are still alive who fought as hard as they can to stay alive while fighting for my freedom and i respect their courage out on the battlefield. I believe that some people don't understand what the veterans had to go trough while fighting. They had to deal with the horrible conditions of the country they were fighting in also they had to deal with other men shooting at them daily trying to kill them so that they didn't have to die. So i believe that Veterans Day is the most important day because we get to honor all the veterans and everything they went through and accomplished while fighting for our freedom and the freedom of the entire United States of America in countries all over the world that threatened our freedom as a country.
ReplyDeleteJonathan B p7
ReplyDeleteWhen I was reading the articles, they were more towards the younger veterans. The articles did not say much about the older veterans. Having a day for the living and the non living veterans is extremely important in my perspective. It is even better when people thank veterans personally, that way the veterans know that people still appreciate what they have done in their life. Vietnam veterans should be thanked even more than some of the other veterans from other wars. I think this because when they got back they did not have a warm welcome home. In most cases they were called horrible names, some were even spit on. If you do see a veteran thank them for their service. They fought for our freedom.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteVeteran's day is a great day, we can learn about the wars and everything that the returning soldiers would want to share with us. We can learn things from the assembly's that we are forced to go see; by some of our teachers. It would be really great if we could have a veteran's day where all of the returning veteran's could come together an share their stories but on a larger scale; like make a festival out of it. Include all of the towns people in it, the public and private schools. And the students would have to sign in at a booth, to let their school know that they showed up. And that would be counted as a school day, if you signed in. And during that event we could give the Veteran's that need food/ shelter/ clothes and anything else they need. It could be given to them. They almost gave their life/ lives for this country, I feel the need to repay the ones that did things for us should be thanked for their efforts.
ReplyDeleteBut don't give the panhandlers that only take money, an then use that for something else. Give them food, an something hot to eat. It's cold out, you don't wan them to catch a cold...
Lauren A. Period 8
Conor Duffy
ReplyDeletePeriod: 7
I believe that Veterans Day is a great day to honor all types of veterans that survive from combat. Honoring our present day veterans is important because we cannot repay them for what they did for our country. What makes me wonder is why we don’t treat our veterans with more respect. If you see a veteran, you should thank him for what he or she did. They should be treated as heroes for returning. Having them have no jobs and being homeless is no acceptable way for us to thank them.
I believe that Veterans Day is a very important day in which we honor all of the men and women who rick their lives to protect us and our freedom. The veterans deserve more respect especially because of the fact that they are fighting for us every single day and a majority of them have so much to lose such as family, however they put the risks behind them and fight for us anyways. It is so sad whenever I hear about the veterans being homeless because it's wrong that that is what they get for fighting for us. These veterans deserve nothing but respect from us and I am thankful for all they do.
ReplyDeleteMarissa per 8
Veterans day is an extremely important holiday which I think is completely necessary that we celebrate since we are thanking people which are some of the most important figures to our countries existence. People that sacrificed so much just for our freedom and had tremendous courage to stand up for our country. I think its awful when you hear about veterans being homeless because they did so much for our country and did what so many people were to scared to do. They often get treated like dirt for going into unwanted wars even though its not their fault. All veterans should be treated with tremendous respect for what they have done for us
ReplyDeleteJack Murray period 8
Veteran's day is a holiday that's necessary and should be treated as such. It seems as if the youth of America treats Veterans Day as just a day off to school and they don't truly appreciate how significant of a sacrifice these men and women need to make. They are risking there lives every single day to defend our nation. That is why it is so disappointing that some Veterans are homeliness and struggle when they return to the country they risked their lives for. Veterans should be treated with a lot more respect than they are given.
ReplyDeleteJoe R per 2
Veterans Day is an incredibly important and necessary holiday, especially in America. Our country was founded by people who stood up for themselves and risked everything for what they believed to be the greater good, selflessly. I believe that is what a veteran truly is. Luckily, we have veterans to tell us about how things were and how we can learn from our mistakes in the past. Veterans are a key part in the growth of our country. We are losing veterans everyday, not only to old age, but to malnourishment and other consequences of homelessness. It is important that we fight to keep those, who risked their well being for ours, healthy.
ReplyDeleteEmma P per6
In my opinion Veteran's Day is an extremely important holiday, many members of my family have served in the military (including my father) and veteran's day gives them the recognition they deserve for fighting for our country. Many Veteran's these days don't get much though except a simple thank you, and while a thank you can mean a lot, sadly some soldiers are coming home and that thank you is all they have. Many veteran's do not have jobs, which is think is terrible. The men and woman who serve our country deserve these jobs after putting their lives on the line for us to all be safe. They deserve it a lot more than most people. I think that the government should set up ways for the men and woman who enlist to have a job secured for them when they come home.
ReplyDeleteAodhan Dunn
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