The Importance of Veterans Day

November 11, 2012 is the day we celebrate Veterans Day, a time America as a whole represent the memory of the veterans who fought in World War I to show our gratitude of veterans who have fought or are still fighting for their country.

Many people of America don’t think of Veterans Day as a big holiday compared to Christmas or Thanksgiving. Veterans Day is a time where America takes time to celebrate and admire the ones who served their country either still living or passed away.

This holiday came about by President Dwight Eisenhower, who announced on Oct. 8, 1938, as World War I was coming to an end, that every 11th of November each year we as a country would show our remembrance of those who died for their country or lived through the brutality of not only World War I but every war to follow.

The 11^th of November was chosen because it was the first hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month the war had finally ended.

Not many people celebrate this holiday by doing much more than putting out a flag or possibly visiting an old gravesite that holds a veteran, usually only if someone in that family personally knew a veteran. I went around Whitnall High school and asked if any student knew any veterans and what war they served in.

Katie Williams, a freshman at Whitnall, said her grandfather Robert Williams served in the Korean War.

“He often talks about fighting in the Korean War and the emotions he felt while serving," Williams said.

I was surprised about how much this student knew about the information her grandpa told her; it really tells me that even the younger generation still cares about the older generation and the details of what war is really like.

Another student named Morgan Willms said, “My uncle Eric Guarkee served in the Iraq war. His main job was jumping out of planes but once he got injured he was asked to leave. He was very patriotic and disappointed after his injury.”

After I heard this response it told me that once you fight for you country it really impacts your life not only right after you're done serving but the meaning of fighting stays with you years after you’ve fought.

Learning about Veterans day really made me realize the importance of why we need soldiers and how much they are giving up by choosing to fight for their country and risk their lives every day. America as a whole, no matter what the age, should continue showing our gratitude every Nov. 11.