Veterans' Day at the Middle School

Time for a rant.

I just got home from a middle school Veterans' Day assembly.

OK, I remember sitting through those when I was in school. Ours were at least enlivened by a rendition of "In Flanders' Fields," which nobody knows about any more, but they were fairly boring. But STILL. Anyone making a peep of noise would have been in deep doodoo.

While the principal was reading a brief (very brief--he knows his audience) history of Veterans' Day, the dance class, waiting to perform to "Coming to America," decided to have a little natter, all glitter and pony tails. I stuck my head into the middle of their conversation and told them that the reason they were getting an education and had the opportunity to natter in English is that a lot of people gave their lives to let them have that right. And that the least they could do was show a little respect. That shut them up.

Husband's Advanced Theater class performed his latest original choral reading piece, called "I Am a Veteran." They ROCKED that gym! And, throughout, two women standing behind me were talking. After the last bit of applause faded, I went up to them and thanked them very nicely, with a smile on my face, for talking through the performance. How on earth can we expect the kids to show respect when adults don't?

When the Colour Guard (High School ROTC) retired, one stupid brat of an 8th grader stood right in the path of one of the flag-bearing cadets. Right at the last second she drifted six inches out of his way. Barely giving him clearance. She was tall, so I managed to catch up with her in the crowded hall when the students were dismissed back to class. I asked her if she had expected him to go around her, or what. I also told her that I thought her action was disrespectful, and perhaps she should give a thought, on Veterans' Day, to the soldiers who preserved her right to walk around with her hair uncovered.

Maybe I'm just getting more conservative as I get older, but I feel that we HAVE to get these children to at least go through the motions of showing respect for our military; past, present and future.


In Flanders Fields
By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)
Canadian Army

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.