All I knew was that my granddaughter, Elizabeth, had been selected to read a poem she had written at the Veteran’s Day Ceremony at St. David’s School. Like any proud grandparents we went to hear her. When the wind ensemble started playing a Souza march and the NC State Color Guard escorted the veterans onto the field, accompanied by their children or grandchildren, we realized this wasn’t just going to be just another Veterans’ Day salute.

Headmaster Kevin Lockerbie set the tone by telling the students, relatives and veterans that Armistice Day was first observed on the eleventh day of the eleventh month at 11 a.m in 1918, to celebrate the end of World War One. Later the event was renamed Veteran’s Day, a day to pay tribute to those who have worn the uniform. That message was reaffirmed by a retired Army Colonel who reminded us that a soldier won our freedoms for us, including freedoms of speech, the press, the right to bear arms, to worship as we please and even the freedom to protest. He spoke of the cold he endured, the hunger, the loneliness and fear he experienced in combat conditions.

Following his moving message a female Navy Captain reported there were 20 million Americans, about 6 percent of our population, who were veterans. She reminded us that our armed forces members not only fight our wars but they work for us in many other ways, such as hurricane relief, flood response, rescue operations and food distribution in times of crises.

There might be times when some go too far in their patriotic fervor, in extolling the greatness of America, even suggesting that God sides with America against other nations. But there are times when it is very appropriate to honor our heritage and our veterans. On this afternoon, in the company of these young students and the mostly aging veterans who were present I was especially proud to be an American, thankful for men and women who served and appreciative that St. David’s thought it important enough to pay tribute to them. The event was capped by having three parachutists, led by Carolina Journal’s Don Carrington, jump out of a plane and land on the field behind the platform.

This Veteran’s Day I got the message. I get so busy living my life that I fail to see that this life is far different than it could have been because of others’ service. We stand on the shoulders of those before us and, even as we look ahead to the future, we need to pause and give thanks for the past and present efforts of our men and women in uniform.

Oh, my granddaughter was incredible in the presentation of her poem.