A good reminder about respect and honor

I had the opportunity to attend my daughter's school's Veterans Ceremony this past Thursday and here are some of my observations and conclusions.  

The ceremony lasted almost two hours.  The opening ceremony consisted of a standing ovation for all the attending veterans {sadly enough the students had to be reminded THREE times as to how to honor them...literally, the VP of the school had to tell them to stand up and applause right before the veterans walked in.  Sad, huh?}

The principal delivered a somewhat shaky, ho-hum typical welcome statement to all which was followed by the local high school ROTC raising the flags...and then...finally all attending recited the Pledge of Allegiance. This is the only time during the school year where the Pledge of Allegiance is recited and honored...unfortunately! :(
 

The band (which my daughter is a member, hence my reason for being present) played God Bless America...wonderfully in fact,  :)  and the school chorus sang their round of patriotic songs between the school orchestra and band's musical pieces while students sat restlessly in the stands. 

The ceremony continued as the Master of Ceremonies swiftly moved through each section of the speakers, and etc but here's where it really got interesting.  The Master of Ceremonies played a PowerPoint presentation in honor of our local military members who lost their lives within the past few years.  

Dimitri A. Del Castillo KIA June 25, 2011

Christophe Marquis (joined Army at age of 39) KIA Sept 7, 2011 

 Read Christophe's Story

This presentation was accompanied by Toby Keith's song, "American Soldier" and yes, the my eyes teared up while watching this. 

It was at the end of this presentation when I noticed a small group of kids sitting across the aisle next to me.  Giggling, a bit disruptive, and all around annoying. The ceremony then progressed on to honoring the attending veterans and currently active military personnel from MacDill AFB. What an amazing sight to see this large of a group of around 100 veterans!  Amazing!


Deservingly so, each veteran and active duty serviceman/woman was announced and stood up to accept his/her applause. Granted it took some time to complete this process and more and more students grew increasingly unruly and disruptive. School officials kept asking them to keep it down and or behave but at this point, I was honestly ready to lean across the aisle and cuff one of them on the back of the head and tell them to be thankful for our veterans.  Especially when this small group of kids mocked a specials needs class as the class recited a poem in honor of the veterans attending the ceremony.

Now these aren't young kids who aren't old enough to know how to show respect.  They were ages 13-14, and I'm astounded that they didn't have the courtesy to behave. Far be it that they didn't or couldn't show they even understood the importance of honoring OUR veterans or the success achieved by a specials need class performing at a school ceremony...all I could think about what that these kids should be extremely ecstatic that they aren't MY kids nor are they MY students! I would definitely given them a lesson on respect they'd never forget!


Well, enough of the observations so here are my conclusions drawn from this 2 hour experience:


1. Apparently our kids could benefit from learning a heck of a lot more about the value of our military forces and their sacrifices for our freedoms.

2. Perhaps school and home lessons on etiquette would prove useful...Ms. Manners, where are you?

3. Three school officials at my daughter's middle school could use some lessons in managing disruptive children.  Perhaps they are too worried about liability and legal issues??? Who knows.

4. The Pledge of Allegiance should mean something.  Students should be able to recite this.  Wait...I should say that U.S. Citizens should be able to recite the Pledge, any time, any where.  Not once a year at a Veteran's Ceremony.
5. As I grow older, I realize that I gain a better understanding and respect of those who serve our country.  I'm continuously surprised how emotional I become thinking about their sacrifices for me, for us.  
6. I question if we non-military folks do enough for our vets.  Do we forget them throughout the year only to remember them once a year on a national holiday?  I know I'm grateful for the freedoms I have, given to us by their sacrifices, but I honestly don't feel I honor them enough.  It's time I do and much more often, don't you think? What about you?