You Are Not Forgotten

Current Cover Art Since Friday I've visited some Veteran's Day themed blogs.  Three of them not only honored Veterans as a whole but mentioned their family or friends that served.  Thank you, Jeff Dawson, Dixie Swanson, and Rich Weatherly for sharing your stories.

Today at my God-daughter's school, local veterans were honored. I was

There was a brief movie that the students put together which started out with many thank you messages. Next, it briefly chronicled different wars beginning with World War I  into present day. I saw a few tear drops coming not only from my eyes but those of veterans around me. Shortly afterwords, each branch of service was honored with their "theme song". We stood proudly in our little groups. At the end they played "Taps" for those that served and are no longer with us. All of us that could stand, stood up, put our hats/hands over our hearts and honored them. I know I wasn't the only one that shed a few tears at this one, either. 

Then each veteran, had their name called out. Each of us were handed a coin that read: 

In God We Trust 

You Are Not Forgotten 

After all the names were called out, there was large round of applause by the students and adults assembled honoring us.  My heart swelled and even more tears fell as I was looking out over the audience.  These children are our future and they are being taught to honor those that did their duty to protect the freedoms that they now have.  

At the time of Dismissal the principal read these words:

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them. 

-John F. Kennedy 
Then the principal asked the students to take a moment as they left the assembly to shake the hand of a Veteran and just say thank you. I shook many hands mostly females. One female even commented that it was really cool that I was a female veteran... the only one among all the males.  I hadn't noticed until then. 
Will my presence there influence someone, female or male, to join the military? I have no clue.  Will my presence make any difference in anyone's future? I may never know. What I do know is that I'm glad that I went and saw the faces of the student body. I'm happy that I shook the hands of so many young people along with fellow veterans and school staff. 
Happy Veteran's Day Observed.  May you Not Be Forgotten. May your good words and deeds be ones that help others in some small way.  
Lynn Hallbrooksco-author to David McKoyco-owner of Call Sign Wrecking Crew, LLC