On November 11, 2012 our nation will celebrate Veterans Day. Originally called Armistice Day, the meaning and significance of this federal holiday have become blurred. For too many, Veterans Day has come to merely represent a day off from school or from work. When pressed, others are unable to explain the origin of the holiday or its intended purpose. At one time, it was a major priority of our schools to teach students about traditional and patriotic American history, customs, and traditions. Generally, that is no longer the case in our public school systems.
During my 32 years in public education, I saw, first hand, the gradual erosion of the emphasis placed on these topics. At times, a curriculum crunch could be blamed for relegating the teaching of traditional American values to the sideline. However, a very definite bias has emerged in our public schools, which has been a major influence to remove such topics from the curriculum.
Thankfully, there are many communities across America as well as inspired teachers that plan and conduct a variety of events to honor the service of those who have worn the uniform. It is in communities such as these that our youth will learn to respect and take time to honor the service of our nation’s veterans and active duty personnel. We are fortunate to live in a community like Edmonds, in which traditional American values, customs, and traditions are taught and reinforced. We salute the Edmonds school-community for caring.
On behalf of VFW Post # 8870, we thank you all for your service to our great nation and recognize and honor the sacrifices you and the members of your family have made. I join you in reflecting on the reasons we chose to serve.