When I was little, I saw Veterans at places like supermarkets. They had cups to collect money to pay for the care of the Veterans at Veterans' Hospital. But, at the time, I did not know this. I just liked to put money in the cup and get a little red flower. I did not know that these courageous and brave persons fought for my country in wartime.
It was not until my uncle fought in the Persian Gulf war when I realized that a Veteran was more than a person who gave me a little red flower. During the war, my family and I prayed that he would be safe. It was then that I realized that my uncle and the other soldiers were fighting for people's freedom. After the war, my uncle come to my school to teach the students about what the soldiers did in the war. I learned that it was a hardship for them to risk their own lives for the freedom of others. Then, I really knew what a Veteran was. I never knew they actually fought in a war and they did it all for our country. They went out with other Veterans and fought. Some made it back, and others did not. I thought about how I would feel if that happened to me. My family means a lot to me, and it would hurt me if someone did not survive, but I could say, "Someone in my family died fighting in a war for our country." When Veterans' Day comes around, it's a good time to think of how our country would be without the Veterans. Our country would not be as independent as we are now. The United States might be under another country's rule. We might not be enjoying our democracy: we could be living in a dictatorship. There might be danger of a violent war happening near where we live, as a more powerful country might try to claim our land. My male family members could be lost in these wars. These Veterans changed the lives of all the people of this country and of many other countries.
As you can see, Veterans are an important part of our country and mean very much to me. It is important that on this day, we remember these Veterans. Our life would be very different without the risks, bravery, and courage of them. They deserve this day of honor, so show your respect as I and many others do, and thank what they have done to this country. Thank you Veterans!
Wow. Somebody gets it.
SAM, thanks for posting this, and thanks to C. Freund for a winning essay.