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When people tell me they don’t When people tell me they don’t understand why we celebrate understand why we celebrate Veterans Day, I can’t help but Veterans Day, I can’t help but wonder what qualities they value if wonder what qualities they value if selfless sacrifice and duty to country selfless sacrifice and duty to country don’t make their top-ten list of don’t make their top-ten list of important traits to honor and important traits to honor and respect.respect.
I’m sure the veterans we celebrate on that special I’m sure the veterans we celebrate on that special day “felt like” serving every day they fought wars day “felt like” serving every day they fought wars overseas.overseas.
I’m sure their missions made sense to them 100 I’m sure their missions made sense to them 100 percent of the time, every single day. I’m sure percent of the time, every single day. I’m sure they woke up every morning and said to they woke up every morning and said to themselves, “What a great day to put my life on themselves, “What a great day to put my life on the line. I really feel like getting up today and the line. I really feel like getting up today and making a huge sacrifice for my country. making a huge sacrifice for my country.
Can I please stay in this tent one week longer Can I please stay in this tent one week longer with no sleep and only a couple Meals, Ready to with no sleep and only a couple Meals, Ready to Eat, to keep me going? Oh, and could you please Eat, to keep me going? Oh, and could you please shoot at me in the process? That would really shoot at me in the process? That would really make my day, and make a lot of sense, too.”make my day, and make a lot of sense, too.”
Thanking and honoring veterans Thanking and honoring veterans needs to be something we do even needs to be something we do even when we don’t feel like it – even when we don’t feel like it – even when we don’t understand their when we don’t understand their mission, or why they love their mission, or why they love their country so much.country so much.
Our nation is grateful to veterans – the brave men and women who have served in the military and have made tremendous sacrifices to protect our freedom.
Who is a Veteran?Who is a Veteran?
Veterans are people who served in Veterans are people who served in the military (U.S. Army, Navy, Marine the military (U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard) in Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard) in times of war or peace.times of war or peace.
Who is a soldier?Who is a soldier?
Who are these young men and women Who are these young men and women who choose to put others before who choose to put others before themselves? They are selfless individuals themselves? They are selfless individuals - optimistic, and filled with a sense of duty - optimistic, and filled with a sense of duty to themselves and their country. They to themselves and their country. They choose to follow in the footsteps of those choose to follow in the footsteps of those who came before them, and to defend who came before them, and to defend both our nation and its honor.both our nation and its honor.
TALK ABOUT CHARACTER TRAITS!!TALK ABOUT CHARACTER TRAITS!!
Let’s look at the MARINES!!!Let’s look at the MARINES!!!
The Marine Corps strives to produce The Marine Corps strives to produce not only the best warriors, but also not only the best warriors, but also the best people—men and women the best people—men and women who live by the Core Values of Honor, who live by the Core Values of Honor, Courage, and Commitment.Courage, and Commitment.
HONORHONOR
Marines act responsibly in a mature Marines act responsibly in a mature and dependable manner. They are and dependable manner. They are held to the highest standard of held to the highest standard of ethical and moral behavior. In the ethical and moral behavior. In the Marines, honesty, honor, and respect Marines, honesty, honor, and respect for oneself and others is built into our for oneself and others is built into our very foundation.very foundation.
COURAGECOURAGE
Courage is not the absence of fear. It Courage is not the absence of fear. It is the ability to face fear and is the ability to face fear and overcome it. It is the mental, moral, overcome it. It is the mental, moral, and physical strength that is and physical strength that is ingrained in Marines. It carries them ingrained in Marines. It carries them through every challenge, and aids through every challenge, and aids them in facing the unknown.them in facing the unknown.
COMMITMENTCOMMITMENT
Commitment is what compels Commitment is what compels Marines to serve our country and Marines to serve our country and the Corps. It is what drives them the Corps. It is what drives them to face every mission head-on, to face every mission head-on, and win our nation's battles.and win our nation's battles.
QUALITIES FOR A LIFETIMEQUALITIES FOR A LIFETIME
The qualities Marines possess—The qualities Marines possess—courage, determination, leadership, courage, determination, leadership, honesty, and fortitude—stay with honesty, and fortitude—stay with them long after active duty.them long after active duty.
After a Marine leaves active duty, the After a Marine leaves active duty, the core values that they possess as a core values that they possess as a Marine - honor, courage, and Marine - honor, courage, and commitment - stay with each commitment - stay with each individual for the rest of their life. individual for the rest of their life.
THE PRIDE OF BELONGINGTHE PRIDE OF BELONGING
From high school teachers, to well-known From high school teachers, to well-known industry titans, successful Marines have a record industry titans, successful Marines have a record of becoming successful civilians.of becoming successful civilians.There are upstanding citizens right in your There are upstanding citizens right in your community that are former Marines. They, too, community that are former Marines. They, too, have gone on to a level of success that they often have gone on to a level of success that they often attribute to their time spent in the Marine Corps.attribute to their time spent in the Marine Corps.Many point to their initial training where they Many point to their initial training where they learned self-reliance, fortitude, and leadership. learned self-reliance, fortitude, and leadership. These traits, once learned, are never forgotten. These traits, once learned, are never forgotten. As they say, "Once a Marine, always a Marine." As they say, "Once a Marine, always a Marine." What's more, they apply universally, whether one What's more, they apply universally, whether one is on the battlefield or in the boardroom.is on the battlefield or in the boardroom.
NO MATTER WHAT BRANCH OF SERVICE…NO MATTER WHAT BRANCH OF SERVICE…
ArmyArmyNavyNavy
Air Force Air Force MarinesMarines
National GuardNational GuardCoast GuardCoast Guard
YOUR VETERANS ALL HAVE THESE YOUR VETERANS ALL HAVE THESE TRAITS…TRAITS…
On Veterans Day we thank and honor those who served in the On Veterans Day we thank and honor those who served in the military. Veterans Day is observed on November 11th of each military. Veterans Day is observed on November 11th of each
year. This day used to be called Armistice Day.year. This day used to be called Armistice Day.
VETERANS DAYVETERANS DAY
World War I ended on November 11, World War I ended on November 11, 1918. On the same date three years later 1918. On the same date three years later an unknown soldier from that war was an unknown soldier from that war was buried at Arlington National Cemetery. buried at Arlington National Cemetery. November 11 eventually became the date November 11 eventually became the date when America honors all who have served when America honors all who have served the United States in war. the United States in war.
Many people confuse Memorial Day and Many people confuse Memorial Day and Veterans Day. Do you know the difference?Veterans Day. Do you know the difference?
Memorial Day is a day for remembering and Memorial Day is a day for remembering and
honoring those who died serving their countryhonoring those who died serving their country. .
Who do you know who is a Who do you know who is a veteran?veteran?
Maybe it is your mother, father, Maybe it is your mother, father, sister, brother, aunt, uncle, sister, brother, aunt, uncle, grandfather, grandmother, cousin, grandfather, grandmother, cousin, neighbor, or teacher. You can be neighbor, or teacher. You can be very proud of them. Many have given very proud of them. Many have given much to keep us safe and freemuch to keep us safe and free. .
HONORS BESTOWED UPON HONORS BESTOWED UPON OUR VETERANSOUR VETERANS
The Medal of HonorThe Medal of Honor is the highest award for valor in action against an enemy is the highest award for valor in action against an enemy force which can be bestowed upon an individual serving in the Armed Services force which can be bestowed upon an individual serving in the Armed Services
of the United States. Generally presented to its recipient by the President of of the United States. Generally presented to its recipient by the President of the United States of America in the name of Congress, it is often called the the United States of America in the name of Congress, it is often called the
Congressional Medal of Honor.Congressional Medal of Honor.
The Purple Heart is an American decoration - the The Purple Heart is an American decoration - the oldest military decoration in the world in present oldest military decoration in the world in present use and the first American award made available to use and the first American award made available to the common soldier. It was initially created as the the common soldier. It was initially created as the Badge of Military Merit by one of the world’s most Badge of Military Merit by one of the world’s most famed and best-loved heroes -General George famed and best-loved heroes -General George Washington.Washington.
MEMORIALSMEMORIALS
What can you do on Veterans Day?What can you do on Veterans Day?
Win a spot to read your Poem during Win a spot to read your Poem during the Brill Elementary Veterans Day the Brill Elementary Veterans Day
Ceremony.Ceremony.
What Does Veterans Day mean to What Does Veterans Day mean to you? you?
Is it apple pie and flag waving?Is it apple pie and flag waving?
Soldiers in uniform?Soldiers in uniform?
Write a poemWrite a poemWhat Veterans Day means to youWhat Veterans Day means to you..
1 winner per class will be chosen to 1 winner per class will be chosen to read their poem at the Veterans Day read their poem at the Veterans Day
Program.Program.
Interview family and friends for their story!!Interview family and friends for their story!!
**REMEMBER YOUR AUDIENCE****REMEMBER YOUR AUDIENCE**
Make it interesting not just dates and facts…Make it interesting not just dates and facts…BORING!!BORING!!
Your final copy is due on Your final copy is due on Friday, November 2ndFriday, November 2nd
Your poem must be typed or neatly writtenYour poem must be typed or neatly written
This will be a major Grade in Language Arts.This will be a major Grade in Language Arts.
To be considered for entry it must be To be considered for entry it must be typed or neatly writtentyped or neatly written
with clip art, stickers, or drawingswith clip art, stickers, or drawings to compliment it.to compliment it.
SHOW ME YOU CARE ABOUT OUR VETERANS!!!Put your HEART
AND
SOUL into your writing!!
