This letter showed up in my inbox yesterday, so I thought I'd share:
I teach 3rd grade in South Western School District, and our school had an assignment to write a letter to a Veteran. This morning I taught my lesson on Veteran's Day and as the day went on, I felt the urge to write my own letter. My father-in-law is a Vietnam Veteran and our family is very patriotic. I wrote him a letter today and while rereading it, I hope it would help him know that the future (children) were thinking about him and learning about his sacrifices. Then I thought, if it helps him, maybe it'd help other Veterans.
November 11, 2009
Veteran's Day
Dear Dad,
As I stood before my class of 8- and 9-year-olds today, I thought about you. My grandfathers, uncles, and those who I never knew passed through my thoughts. It was difficult for me to stand in front of the children without a sense of deep emotion. At times when they answered the question, "How can you honor our Veterans?" I had to hold back the pride and emotion set forth by their words. They are so young, yet understand more than most adults the importance of your sacrifice. Little do they know or see the effect of your experiences on your life and your family's lives. However, your family knows the deep impact and scars it has left on your heart and mind.
Sure, you don't visit them every day, but the "scars," when looked at or thought about take you back in time. They say that time travel is impossible, but from time to time, you defy that statement. It should give you comfort to know all those who feel the same and have been in your shoes. But because you're heart is true and you're a good man, you don't feel comfort, you feel sadness. You wish you could make their thoughts go away, heal their scars, and maybe they could do the same for you.
I had many great answers from my students today. Many of them said they will "pray for Veterans" or that they will "take time to just remember them." But one little girl answered my previous question by saying, "We can ALL honor our Veteran's by challenging ourselves to be better, because they went through challenges to make US better." She's eight. The impact her statement left on my heart can be one that will heal the scars on yours.
This Veteran's Day I want you to know that every morning my students are standing at attention, hand on their hearts, and singing the National Anthem and reciting The Pledge. Each one of them is reminded every day that our country, its citizens, and its Veterans are the reason I am here to teach, and they are hear to learn. Life tends to get in the way some days, but know that your family, in my house, never forgets. We will do everything in our power to teach your grandson the importance of the lives, time, and scars left by wars and indifference, in hopes that one day, he may be the answer to peace on Earth.
God bless you, the fallen, the surviving, and the living.
"Children and dogs are as necessary to the welfare of the country as Wall Street and the railroads." - Harry S Truman
Mr. Benjamin Olewiler M. Ed.
3rd Grade Teacher
West Manheim Elementary
It is great to see a teacher making that personal connection and so obviously putting feeling behind his lesson about this important but sometimes sadly overlooked holiday.
It's easy to get caught up in the politics of the worlds events and lose sight of the people who are risking, have risked, made sacrifices, or have lost their lives for the things we sometimes take for granted.
I thank you Mr. Olewiler for helping to teach our youth the importance of that holiday and am happy to hear that there were positive responses to your questions.
If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you are reading this in English, thank a soldier.