Two Really Nice Days

November 12, 2009 — The past few days have brought home to me just why I am proud to be an American. On Tuesday I joined with three other members of my Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post and one member of our Ladies Auxiliary in visiting one of the local elementary schools. The purpose of our visit was to talk to all the 4th and 5th graders of the school about what it means to be a veteran. Each time I have gone into a classroom either as a teacher or as a student I have come away having learned something. That's the idea right? Well our visit to this school was no different.

VFW members visiting classrooms in their communities during the month of November each year is a VFW program called Veterans in the Classroom. My VFW Post has been participating in this for years. Each member has the opportunity to speak about whatever veteran topic they desire. It's always interesting to hear what other members have to say. I spoke with the kids on two specific subjects: (1) the meaning of Veterans Day to me, and (2) about the POW/MIA issue. It is sometimes difficult for veterans to speak using words the kids can understand. All of us try very hard to do so because we learn from the teachers and administrators that are also there that this important to the kids to help them understand better what they are talking about and learning in their classes.

So what else did I learn on this day? Well after each of us speaks we then field questions from the kids. There are the usual questions such as "what kind of plane did you fly" and "how long was the war"...that sort of thing. But on this day we had more comment than question from the kids...comments such as "my Grandfather was in WWII", "my Uncle Bob was in the Army and went to Vietnam", and my Great Uncle Joe did this or that while he was in the Navy. Wow, I learned that there is indeed good discussion going on in families of these children about their heritage and what it all means. These kids are bright and thirsty for knowledge and they remember. It warmed my heart and helped me to stand taller as a veteran.

Yesterday I participated with other members of our VFW Post in the annual Veterans Day parade here in Austin. Nearly every veterans organization in the city joins in this event along with so many community groups and city, county, and state organizations like the city fire and police departments. The parade runs up Congress Ave from the Ann Richards bridge over the Colorado River to the foot of the state capital. It's amazing to me the number of people that line the parade route and applaud, wave flags, hold thumbs up as each group passes by. Again, it made me proud to be an American...to be a veteran. The parade is concluded by a ceremony held on the grounds of the capital where the all to politically charged speeches are made and then ceremonial wreaths are laid at the foot of a replica of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers. The members of our VFW then go to the Post Home for an Open House and a lunch. When our Post Commander returned from the ceremony at the capital he remarked that the speeches were a bit long and each speaker made a proclamation that this was Veterans Day etc, etc. The Commanders thought to that was he did not need to know this as it was proclaimed Veterans day long ago...a funny thought.

So, a really great two days. I have another opportunity to go to a school on Friday as part of Veterans in the Classroom. And, I will have many more opportunities to stand tall as a veteran... helping other veterans and their families and helping in our community...it's what really matters.