Students from Sacred Heart Catholic School Read Original Works at MCVMC Veterans Ceremony

CONROE, TX -- Several students from the Sacred Heart Catholic School in Conroe, read their original works about Veterans Day this past Saturday at the Montgomery County Veterans Memorial Commission's 'Veterans Day Celebration,' a ceremony dedicated to America's Veterans. The students, 8th graders Zoey Field and Ashley Erickson, and 7th grader Paula Seora, each read their original Veteran works to those gathered at the ceremony where Veterans were honored, and 21 new members of the US Armed Forces were inducted into their respective military branches. Each student offered heartfelt lines from their own hands. The essays and poem were a gesture much appreciated by the Veterans and the civilians who attended the ceremony.

Ashley Erickson

8th grader

Essay - ‘What Veterans Day Means To Me,’

Someone who is disciplined, someone who is brave, someone who is honorable. That's the definition of a veteran. Over the lands and seas, there are veterans everywhere. Veterans are not just survivors. They are far more than that. Veterans have a past. Not a normal, boring past, but a patriotic and tough past. Veterans around the world are heroes with their braveness billowing behind them. Veterans care for others. How do I know this? They sacrificed themselves on the battlefield for us. No matter what military branch, they offered themselves up for me and all of you. My grandfather was a veteran. He sacrificed himself for our country and showed loyalty to the United States. Veterans Day is showing respect for these people who have put their life on the line. These former soldiers have saved lots of lives. Their survival instincts saving their lives, too. Being a veteran is much more than returning from war. They return with much more than we know. They have more bravery, more survival skills, more loyalty, and more faith. In the past, I have never given much thought to Veterans Day, but now I fully understand why I should give lots of thought to it. I've never thought of the trauma some of the veterans turn with. I've never thought about how they survive. I start wondering what it must feel like. Scary, good. But now that I understand how important Veterans Day is, I am safe and protected because of you veterans. Lots of veterans have gone through actual pain. Not the pain you get when you step your toe on the door. They know what it's like to leave their family, to see a loved one pass, maybe even their best friend. The true meaning of Veterans Day is much more than you read when you research it. Each veteran has their own story. Not all their stories have happy endings. Some veterans lost their limbs. Some lost their voices. Some come back with PTSD. But that doesn't change who they are. I admire their braveness and their loyalty. Veterans around the world, thank you for your service.

Zoey Field

8th grader

Essay - ‘Veterans the Braver Ever More’

Whether trudging through the jungles of Vietnam, sprinting through the sands of Iraq, or stumbling over rocks in Afghanistan, our veterans stayed strong. Whether a sniper on the rooftop, a troopman on the ground, or an airman flying overhead, our veterans stayed precise. These men and women deserve our utmost respect for their dignity and their power. Never was it known that a veteran would fight a battle alone. Yet they come back to our country that they risk their lives for and are treated as if they did not just risk everything for us. As if they did not just spend hours of their lives being yelled at by their sergeant to be stronger, braver, faster, to be the best. They come back from watching their friends pay the ultimate sacrifice and are told the price they pay is only worth our time once a year. That does not go to say that all veterans are not treated respectfully year round. But why is it that so few are? In the book of John, Chapter 15-13, it says, "Greater one has no love but this, to lay down one's life for one's friends." With this in mind, please find that these men and women show great love for me, you, and their country. They knew what could happen, and they faced it straight on. Marine Corps, Navy, Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Space Force soldiers all alike have a call. Their call is to defend the defenseless. They are trained on how to precisely complete a mission. They use code, tanks, bullets, and guns to ensure the safety of every single one of you sitting here today. I cannot completely even comprehend the pure patriotism and love that these incredible people possess. They show pride for their work, but are still humble. They waited every morning knowing at any moment they could hear their commander's voice say, "Bail out." I wrote three paragraphs, yet I have not even scratched the surface of what many of you sitting here in front of me have done. I may never truly understand what you went through. You truly are the braver evermore.

Paula Seora. 7th grader

Poem - Veterans Day

Every veteran gives their life for our country. They deserve to be honored for all the things they do and sacrifice for us to be safe in this country. We should give thanks to all veterans that put their life on the line for us here today. On Veterans Day, we celebrate all the people who have risked their lives to fight for our country and protect it. Someone who has never been through what they have will never understand the hardships that every veteran might have gone through. I don't and probably will never understand how hard it is to be someone in the military. But I do understand that they deserve all the gratitude they get from other people and so much more. In war, some lives are lost and others get hurt badly. I'm very grateful to the people who sacrificed their life for this country. Those lives that were lost will always be remembered and honored. I think that it takes a lot of courage to be in the military because it's scary to have to leave things behind and go into battle. Veterans set an example for us to be brave even when we are scared of something. Being brave doesn't mean to have no fear, but it means to face those fears head on despite being scared. I look up to all veterans for their courage and bravery. Veterans deserve all the respect and honor that they receive today. I give my respects and prayers to all who sacrificed their life for this country and to their families that might have lost someone close to them. I also respect and hope that the people who fought and survived may live their lives with plenty of joy. Every veteran has put their life on the line for our country. We should give thanks to all veterans here today and every day.