Veterans Day: Students, nation stop to say 'thank you'

I tutor students at a local middle school every Wednesday morning. This morning was unlike any other morning I've had at the school since I began helping students in English Language Arts. There's always a certain energy -- a buzz, if you will -- that greets you when you walk into a middle school classroom. The excitement exuding from the students was obvious from the moment I walked in the door this morning. One student was drawing an American flag on the whiteboard. Another student was writing a patriotic poem on the board. Other students, meanwhile, were talking about the special assembly about to be held on this especially special day.

About 30 minutes into first period, all students were dismissed to the gym. Over the course of the next 30 minutes or so, the students put on a fitting tribute to the men and women, past and present, who have served America in our armed forces. It was a great show.

Students carried our nation's colors into the gym. The school band played an array of patriotic songs. Other students read patriotic poems before a guest speaker -- a local veteran who served combat tours on active duty -- spoke to the students about Veterans Day and offered them a brief glimpse into what it's like serve in the armed forces. In addition to students and teachers, there were also many local veterans -- some old, some young -- in attendance to watch the program. I'm not a mind reader, nor did I interview each of the veterans afterward, but I feel safe in saying that every veteran in attendance appeared to appreciate the students' recognition of their service to our country.

This middle school was not alone. Across the county, state, and nation, many schools were holding similar programs to honor veterans. That's great. It really is. We should also encourage our students not to limit their gratitude and recognition to one day per year. Every day is a great day to pause and say "thank you" to a veteran.