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Veterans Day lessons

During my career, I’ve been called many things by many people, but this week was a first. While covering Beaver Local’s Veterans Day program, I took a photo of third-grader Landyn Jackson, with his hand on his heart, as he sang God Bless America. When the program ended, I said, “Sweetie, can you give me your name?” not even thinking twice about the endearment since that’s what I call most little kids. Later that day, my daughter-in-law advised me that Landyn, whose mom happens to work with her (which I didn’t know), said he had told his mom about some strange woman with “stripes in her hair” who was going around taking pictures of kids and asking their names. “She was kind of creepy,” he told his mom. Normally, I emphasize to children when taking their picture, “Make sure your mom or dad know that your picture was taken by a newspaper reporter,” just to avoid any misunderstandings. Obviously, I failed to be clear on that this time.

No one has more respect for our nation’s veterans than I, having a father who served during World War II. However, with all due respect, when a veteran addressed the East Liverpool Board of Education this week, saying he thinks schools should be closed on Veterans Day, I just shook my head. Having covered Veterans Day events for many years, I can tell you for a fact: When schools once closed for the national holiday, only a handful of kids attended, except for band members, Scouts or others involved in the event. Youthful spectators were few and far between, and I assume they spent their day off school doing what kids do best, and that isn’t honoring veterans. Now, with schools in session on Veterans Day, students are attending assemblies and programs, writing essays, doing projects and otherwise interacting with veterans. This is a much better way of helping young people learn that freedom isn’t free.

– Jo Ann Bobby-Gilbert

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