Honoring those who have served

 

November 13, 2022

Marione Martin

Alva Middle School students sit by their exhibits honoring relatives and friends who have served in the military. After a tour of the displays, veterans and guests watched a program put on entirely by students.

Veterans Day, Nov. 11, reminds us of the many people who have served in the military to protect our freedom. While the post office and banks are closed, students don't get the day off. Instead, Alva students spent the day honoring veterans in the community.

The celebration of veterans began in the morning at Alva High School with a program in the auditorium followed by lunch. Then veterans were invited to visit Alva Middle School where the cafeteria was filled with exhibits prepared by students. At 2 p.m. everyone moved to seats while the students presented a program honoring veterans.

For the exhibits, middle school students chose relatives or friends to interview about their military experience. They collected memorabilia including photos, medals, uniforms and scrapbooks. The learning experience gave students a new understanding of how family and friends have contributed to protecting the country.


Alva's downtown square was lined with flags Friday through the efforts of the Alva American Legion.

Veterans Day originally began as Armistice Day which celebrated the end of World War I. Major hostilities were formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918 when the Armistice with Germany went into effect. Armistice Day was renamed Veterans Day in 1954 at the urging of major US veteran organizations.

Veterans Day celebrates the service of all US military veterans while Memorial Day (in May) honors those who have died while in military service. Another military holiday, Armed Forces Day, also occurs in May and honors those currently serving in the US military.


While the holiday is commonly printed as Veteran's Day or Veterans' Day in calendars and advertisements, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs website states that the attributive (no apostrophe) rather than the possessive case is the official spelling "because it is not a day that 'belongs' to veterans, it is a day for honoring all veterans".

 

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