Like many other students around the US, I was given the day off today due to Veteran’s Day.
After an extended night’s sleep and a good breakfast, I made my way to a local coffee shop to meet up with a few close friends. The small shop had many more customers than its usual Wednesday crowd. Countless students filled every table, many talking with friends (like I was) about the possibilities that the day held. With a full day of school off, most groups had made the decision to spend time at the beach, go out to Los Angeles for the day, or catch up on much needed sleep.
In talking with various groups of friends and brainstorming activities for over an hour, one idea remained untouched: acknowledging why we had the day off in the first place.
It’s funny how we often see holidays as an opportunity to focus on ourselves. I have to admit, for the first hour of sitting at the coffee shop, it didn’t even cross my mind to notice why I was given a full day’s break from work and school.
With multiple wars going on overseas and countless soldiers leaving for years at a time, I think that the least we can do during this day is be thankful. Yes, I do hope to use a large part of my day to catch up on school and work. On the flip-side though, reserving a few minutes to place a single call, writing a letter or two, or even making a house visit to a veteran in our own lives can prove to be more rewarding than any trip to the beach or adventure into the city.
This entry is short for a reason: because there is still time left in this ‘day off’ for you to make a veteran’s day special.
I hope that you take the time to do so. I know I will.