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Living HistoryBy: V. Deborah Culligan, RN, MPH, Most of us do not celebrate the "minor" holidays, like Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Veteran's Day except as family get-togethers, picnics, or shopping days. They are certainly welcome breaks from the usual routine! But many years ago, I decided to attend a Veteran's Day ceremony, at my father's urging. I took my two young sons to the Veteran's Day Ceremony on the town green. Though the celebration was very brief, I knew that the time I had invested was paid back 1,000 times over when my youngest son told his dad about the day's activities. "We went to a place to remember the soldiers who died to keep us free and safe" he proudly stated. Since that time, we have gone every year. Nobody likes war. (And the subject of war is a political "hot potato" right now.) However, Veteran's Day is a time to remember those who served this country to protect our freedom and our lifestyle that we take for granted every day. Veteran's Day provides parents with a great opportunity to discuss the concept of freedom with their children. What does "free and safe" really mean to a child? If you have kids, especially young teenagers, you have probably heard the frequently-used phrase "I don't have to do that. It's a free country." Kids don't really have an understanding about what it means to live in freedom. For that matter, how many of us truly reflect on the route to freedom? Yes, for most of us, Veteran's Day is just another day off… "a time to do the mall." It's obscure in its placement on the calendar, smack in the middle of November. It's not the start to a season. Ceremonies are held at inconvenient times, smack in the middle of the day. But did you know that there is a reason why ceremonies are held in the 11th month, on the 11th day, at 11:00 a.m.? Find out why and share this history with your children. Don't make it just another day off this year. I urge you to go (and bring your children) to a Veteran's Day ceremony this year. The event is short. It is solemn. If you look closely, you will see tears in the eyes of the soldiers. Look into their faces as "Taps" is played. You will gain an insight to a time in history that had a great impact on the life you live today. Honor these men and women by being part of their special ceremony. The veterans of World War II are beginning to disappear. They are
part of a living history, which is slipping away. It will be our job to
carry forth in our hearts and memories these great men and women's
commitment to freedom so we can pass it on to our children so they can
pass it on to the future generations. We need to give our children a
foundation more meaningful than the pursuit of Nintendo DS, Wii, Webkins
and the mall. The freedom under which we live came at a cost. Let us
honor those who helped to keep is free. (Author's note: Some of the
content of this column was written ten years ago, but is still poignant
today.) Comments can be directed to D. Culligan, QVHD, 1151 Hartford
Turnpike, North Haven, 06473 or email to
dculligan@qvhd.org.
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