Editor’s Note: Students at Springdale’s Southwest Junior High recently wrote letters to veterans and active-duty military personnel as part of their school work and will have an assembly Monday to recognize veterans. Below is a sampling of letters from students.
Dear Veterans, Today, all the students and teachers from Southwest Junior High School want to welcome and thank you for everything you’ve done. No words will ever be enough to thank you for your integrity and courage. What you did is something not everybody can do. Not everybody has the bravery and heart to go out to battle and risk their lives for their country.
One of the things that really amaze me is that you’ve given up years with your family just to make this country a better place.
Knowing you could lose your life one day and not be able to see your loved ones again must be a really scary feeling.
It bothers me that people, including me, don’t take the time to stop and think about what’s happening to soldiers on the other side of the world. We never think of how much you’re giving up and how much you’re losing.
You have to face some of the worst situations imagined, and having to stay strong to defeat the enemies is a tough thing to do. Not enough people realize how big of a deal that is.
I won’t say I know exactly how you feel because I don’t.
I don’t have a clue about how hard it is to live life every day with that memory of war in your head or to leave your family for years. But what I will say is that you’re everything a hero is. I know these words of mine aren’t enough or much, but it really means a lot to me that a person so special like you is taking the time to read my thoughts.
So today, let’s make it another memorable day for you. Let’s show you how important and special you are. Thank you so much for everything you have done. Nothing will ever be enough to show our gratitude towards you. Once again, thank you.
ESTELA ARRUE
Dear Veterans, Every day you guys go out and risk your life for our freedom. I’ll confess I take advantage of it, anddon’t thank God enough for what you all are doing for us. I don’t think I’d ever have the courage, strength, and abilities of all you. Going out there risking everything, and leaving your family, or even taking the chance of never seeing them again.
It means so much to our nation. We wouldn’t have all the freedoms we do now if it wasn’t for our beloved veterans.
We come together on this day to honor and cherish everything you all do. We show it some by doing the Pledge of Allegiance, our hand over our hearts, standing looking at the beloved red, white, and blue flag. We don’t take the time to honor everything you do every day. We may not get to tell you all of this, but keep this going through your mind.
When you’re on the battle fi eld fighting and giving it your all, remember because of you we have the rights we have now, that without you our country wouldn’t be where we are now. Thank you with a passion, for missing holidays, fighting for us, and being strong. You’re a big hero, each and every single one of you. I know words don’t help with everything that you all have done for us, or even been through in the past weeks or even months.
You’ll deserve the very best in life and when you all come home I hope it’s the very best visit. You all are heroes of life and angels from above.
STEVIE FORTENBERRY
Dear Veteran, I am eternally grateful for your services to our country. You would wake up every morning and knowingly walk into the depths of danger to keep our country safe. You are one of the many veterans that have witnessed war’s true meaning. I know that nothing I or anyone could say could make you forget the horrible visions you have witnessed.
You have placed your mark on this world and will always be remembered for what you have done for this country. Your contributions have kept our country safe and we owe our lives to you.
I have personal connection to you because my grandfather served in the Air Force. He went all over protecting this great country from the evil of this world that wants to wipe America off the face of the earth.
Once again I thank you from taking time from your family to help people you don’t even know, your friends,and I will never forget you. I feel like I know you, when I don’t. It is so sad to think that you could not spend some holidays with your family. So I hope this letter will help you get used to being back at home in this wonderful country called America.
JOSHUA TYLER
Dear Veteran, I want to thank you for all your hard work. You have given many American people freedom. Many soldiers have died in war for fi ghting for our country, and I really appreciate you being willing to die for our country. Today many are heroes because of their brave deeds and you are one of them. You have saved people’s lives. Days go by that people don’t think of the many veterans who have died from fighting to give us freedom, and some people don’t think about them at all or care about them. But I do.
Every time I think about them I pray for the veterans that are fighting in wars today, and hope that someday I can be out there with them fi ghting for our freedom. I can’t thank you enough for all you have done. Thanks again and God bless you.
JOSIE DAVIS
Dear sir or ma’am, There aren’t any words that can describe how thankful I and all of my peers are of you. You put your life on the line for all of us even though most of us weren’t born yet. Though all of your tough times and your most horrific ones you kept pushing on and you never gave up for your country.
Even though some days you wanted to curl up in a ball and just cry because you missed your family or just plain stress you never gave up. God was truly with you in your time of need, and if there was only one word to describe you I would say perseverance.
Through the horrifi c screams of your fellow soldiers and the disease of the war eating away at your body and mind and soul, I have no idea how you did it. Whether it was through knowing that one day somebody would say, “Hey, he or she saved my life,” or something other than that, I am so grateful that we live in a world of violence but just that one person stood up and fought for what was right!
My heart goes out to the loved ones you lost in battle and how much grieving you must have gone through to keep pushing on to makethem proud of you. Right now I don’t know if what I’m saying is enough to wash away the horrifi c memories, because I know it is not.
On Monday it won’t be just any old day; it’ll be a day of remembrance of all of those who fought for us and put their lives on the line for us. All of the songs written, movies made and books written don’t tell the whole story about what happened on those bad days. There is a whole other part hidden behind a shade. I hope what I have written you has touched you as your courage has touched me.
With love and thanks,
GABRIELLA NEAL
Dear Veterans, Words can’t explain how thankful I am of having you to serve our country.
Whether you’re in Iran or Afghanistan, we are so lucky to have brave people like you going out to fight for our freedom. I have many family members who have served in World War I, II, and also in Iraq. I hope you know that I’m not writing this because I have to. I’m writing this letter to show you how much your country is amazed of how great you are. Your courage and bravery are two characteristics that help you in battle.
I feel bad because I don’t wake up every day and thank God that today is another day that I survived without a fight. That today is another ordinary day of school, work, shopping, etc. Today I don’t have to fight for my life because you are fi ghting for me. When I really think about it, I think about how much you really do for us and how bad you must feel when you can’t be with your family at night or there in the morning when they wake up for the day. I couldn’t imagine having to be thousands of miles away not know what is happing to your family.
People like you are the ones I respect the most. You have so many songs, poems, movies, books, and many other ways to tell about what you go through every day.
Your sorrow and pain isn’t easy to get rid of, but in the end, I know your families are waiting for you. They will be the happiest people and so will you when you reunite with them. Just remember, everything is going to be okay in the end. If it isn’t okay, then it isn’t the end. God bless you and your families.
ALEXIS JONES
Opinion, Pages 5 on 11/10/2012