veterans day – Reflections

By Kaye Hauschild
Head of Middle School, Lakehill Preparatory School

Having a family member who served in our nation’s armed forces pretty much guarantees that Veterans Day is noted on your calendar. This in not because your beloved veteran brings it up or requests that the family come together for recognition. Instead, they hold their memories and experiences close to the vest, sharing only with those whose experiences are the same.

In our school, we make sure that Veterans Day honors veterans through assemblies or music or study. Through this and our service clubs and activities, students have come to recognize both the contributions that have made our country safe and the challenges of our veteran population. They think of their great grandfathers who served in World War II, and consider uncles who fought in Desert Storm. They also remember former military men and women they have met during a Bingo game at Austin Street Shelter or while serving a meal at Dallas Life Foundation.

When asked what they planned for Veterans Day this year, the students’ answer was unanimous. Through an e-mail or a phone call or a personal visit, they are going to say thank you.

By Kaye Hauschild
Middle School Coordinator, Lakehill Preparatory School

My daddy was in the Navy in World War II. When I was growing up, all that his service meant to me was that I could borrow a real sailor’s hat for my Halloween costume. When I got to college and majored in History, I thought myself an expert in World War II military history and his service became a footnote in my knowledge. When life had taught me that war is not something even remotely communicated in textbooks, his service humbled me.

I celebrate Veteran’s Day in his memory and share my celebration with my students each year, encouraging them to remember their friends and loved ones who served our country.

This year, I took the seventh grade, Mrs. John, and Mrs. Ekstrom down the road to C.C. Young Retirement Center where we volunteered to go and talk with the World War II veterans and help them get from where they live to where the Veteran’s Day flag ceremony was taking place.

In the days before our visit, we had four of our scouts volunteer to perform the flag ceremony and four girls volunteer to lead the entire group in the pledge of allegiance. We practiced appropriate questions and conversation starters. We reviewed procedures and dress code.

And then, on November 11, 2011, our seventh grade went to C.C. Young. It was a beautiful flag ceremony, a rousing recitation of the pledge, and no one was lost in transit from home to ceremony or back. The students did everything they were asked to do, but at the end of the morning, it was so much more.

There was a kind of magic that morning between the veterans and our students. Maybe everyone was a little awkward at first, but minutes into our time together, that awkwardness turned to sincere mutual interest. We learned about their experiences and they wanted to know about ours. We were fascinated by their pasts and they were excited for our futures. (One of our veterans tried to recommend Texas A&M to everyone!) Even after the lovely ceremony, one resident’s comment was “It means so much that you just came to talk to us.” And our students felt the same way.

Everyone wants to plan another visit to our new friends. Seventh graders are still talking about their experiences. And there is talk of making our Veteran’s Day visit an annual event.

Once again, I am humbled.