We have all seen those Veterans Day videos our teachers have shown us, read the touching stories, and have done the 10 sentence journals about how this day affects our lives each year. We come to school, go to the convocations, probably don’t even remember that it was Veterans Day until then, and we go through our day without even thinking about it. For most kids who don’t have a family with military background, it comes off as an easy day to look over. It’s easy to give the quick thank you to the veteran we sort of know, and go about our business the rest of the day.

But for some, this day can mean something incredibly different. My friends and I walk the same hallways of students who have given the ultimate sacrifice while in combat. We come to school and see their pictures on the wall every day. But for students here at Zebra New Tech High School in Rochester, Indiana we have a sense of what Veterans Day can really mean. Our small town high school is fortunate enough to be led by a principal who has been to war, and has been in harm’s way more than one time. You won’t meet a single student here that doesn’t have an ounce of reverence towards him.

I look back to my 7th grade year when our science teacher, Mr. Jason Snyder was called back to his second tour in Iraq. None of us really had him in class, but we all remember how emotional it was to have a teacher in harm’s way while we sat safe inside at our desk. Now being a senior, we are lucky enough to have Mr. Snyder as our principal and we can see how being in Iraq has affected his life.

Every year, Mr. Snyder comes and speaks at our Fellowship of Christian Athlete meetings on Veterans Day and I can personally say that it is a treat for everyone who hears his what he has to say. Today was a day he gave his message and it really caught my attention for the first time. As I sat and listened to how he first joined the army, was deployed to Iraq twice, and his experiences overseas, I couldn’t help but think what he went through while I was safe and sound in Rochester, Indiana.

Someone raised their hand and asked the question, “What got you through it all?” A smile was painted across his face and he read us the 91st Psalm from the Bible. And when he was done reading he looked up said, “Sometimes when I think I can’t make it through the day and when it’s too much too bear I go back to when I was in Iraq. I think about when I was sitting in bunkers, when bombs were going off around me on the side of the road, and when I had to make decisions that most people couldn’t bear to make. I remember why I’m still here and am thankful for everything that got me through it.”
It hit me. While we’re running that 15th suicide on the basketball court, trying to swim the hard timed set in the pool, making it through the late night play rehearsals, and fighting sleep to get that 6 page paper done……….there are Americans just like you stationed across the world who are fighting so we can live a life that all of us take for granted.

So thank a Veteran today. Really thank a Veteran today. Take a few minutes to count all of the blessings that are in your lives. We all say we have terrible boring lives, but in reality we have it all. Don’t read this and shrug it off. I’m urging to show the soldier the respect and thanks they deserve. It’s because of people like Mr. Snyder and millions of others that we can truly live in the land of the free, and the home of the brave.
-Taylor Showley
ZNT Senior
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