Take a Veteran to School Day - My Experience

When approached by a good friend of mine who is a teacher, and ask to take part in coming into her class to speak to her 1st grade students about what it is to be a Veteran of the military, I couldn’t turn it down. While on my usual search throughout the internet searching for resources and information for us Veterans of past, present and future, I stumbled upon The History Channel’s website. Their website had a special page dedicated to honoring the men and women of the Armed Forces and also dedicated to a new program called “Take a Veteran to School Day“, which would bring military Veterans into the classroom to speak to students about what it is to be a Veteran.

So I began the planning process of how I can really make this a great experience for the students and for myself. Speaking to 1st graders is a first for me, especially when it came to speaking to them about what I went through serving in the military. I filled my N.Y. National Guard back pack with pictures, my old uniforms (including my father’s Vietnam uniform) and my medals to bring to life my time in the service. The kids loved it, asking me questions, answering questions I had for them, looking through all the pictures, and some even shared with me and their classmates stories about how their grandparents and parents served or are serving in the military.

The 1st grade class at St. Patrick’s Parochial school gave me a better perspective of what we’re really fighting for. We fight so our future generations can continue to grow up in a safe world, a world where they don’t have to be in fear of attacks by the most evil individuals who blow themselves up killing women and children as well. Though it saddens me to think that the children overseas in places especially like the Middle East, see war everyday and even are raised to hate other people in the world at such a young age. It is the children that suffer the most through all the fighting; it is the children that seek adults to raise them in a safe and well being environment.

Veterans day will be tomorrow; a day I will always look forward too and a day I will always celebrate by thinking about my friends and everyone else who continue to serve. Today going into the classroom and speaking to these students was such a great experience and already I have been requested to come back next Veterans Day, which I have already agreed too.

A Special Thank You to the 1st grade class of St. Patrick’s Parochial School.

- Your Veteran Friend, Steve