So, this is a day that has been incredibly full....so much so that I can't come close to listing it as just a line or two, so I'm going to post an entire blog post (no one pass out from shock, you aren't allowed! lol). But they all boil down to three main points:
1: Today is Veteran's Day, as well as being the 11 day (you know, 11-11-11?). This is a special day for history's sake as well as being a special remembrance day as Nov 11th is the day the peace treaty was signed after WWI as well as America's (and Britain's too?) Veteran's Day....a day set apart for Americans to give special honor to all of our military service men/women as well as all of our military veterans (and, at least in my opinion, their families as well). I was so incredibly happy that Hillcrest Elementary (the school that I work at part time as a literacy aide) was having a special assembly....though in truth I had thought this was a normal thing for all schools to do as this was the point of setting the second Tues in Nov. as Veteran's Day to begin with. In preparing for the assembly, stars on paper were handed out for people to put in the information of who they are, who the military service members are/were, the relationship, the applicable war(s), commendations, etc. They then included some ribbons to each of them, and posted them along the wall of the lunchroom. They also asked that if possible the applicable veterans/service members would come to the assembly the school was holding. During the assembly itself (which started at 11 am...not very surprisingly), the did some pretty basic things to pretty much make it more obvious and meaningful to the children (especially the littlest ones) what we were really doing in honoring those present....and especially those not present. I still get tears in my eyes when I think of how respectfully the kids treated everything. After a final applause was given to honor the veterans present (which included a full standing ovation, which took a bit for the kids to understand but surprisingly enough even the adults were hesitant though willing to follow after 5 or so of us stood up), a great surprise came when one of the veterans asked to applaud the kids as being the ones who would eventually take their places. It really was very emotional all the way around, and something that made me very proud of the amazing men and women who have sacrificed and served either themselves or by supporting their own loved ones who served so actively in my family and life.
2: Imagine my surprise when during dinner after I asked my own children about their day and what happened I found out that their school didn't do anything at all for Veteran's Day. I was extraordinarily shocked and appalled to learn that my own kids were not even taught openly about such an important thing as honoring the men and women who put their lives, health, and sanity on the line to protect all of us (as well as their own loved ones who are forced to live so far separated from the, always fearing that dreaded knock to tell them of a loss or missing report, and carrying the weight of their family without the aid of child, parent, or sibling). It was left to the individual teachers who (thankfully) did include activities, but I couldn't believe that a school which I otherwise have been very glad for didn't publicly and openly acknowledge the entire point of Veteran's Day. How sad is it that these kids didn't get the opportunity to know that this is Their claim of pride and humility, that this is Their opportunity to give that respect and honor to another. How severely disappointing is it that the kids in one school have such a marvelous, personal experience...and the kids just across the city were only exposed to the details of the holiday...
3: This is the really, truly amazing part of our day. For months...ok, for years...we have been struggling severely to find good ways to make ends meet. Several times over the last few years, we have had miracles happen, love and charities given....but today has really started to top it all. My very last, high stress bill for the month was due today....and I had to find a miracle way to come up with the last miserable dozen to be able to meet it in full. The reason for this was because this is (of course) Veteran's Day, which means...wait for it...the banks are closed. Smart of me, I know, but I hadn't thought about the fact that the banks close for federal holidays even though the rest of the country doesn't (including the bills I was required to pay). So as my friend and I were scrabbling through our bags for change, my miracle occurred...as I opened my wallet to search out the coin purse, I found, to my amazement, a whole series of bills which I still can not find their source. Enough so that we were not only able to make the required payment, but so that my son's birthday party tomorrow is not as much of a worry since we'll be able to do a few things to help show him how important he is to us as well as meeting other demands on us which have been put off several times over. My head is still reeling from it, but more than anything else it has brought home to me (especially after looking up all of the accounts) how much we are truly being looked after from on High!
How does that sit for you for a day to remember those who truly give us what we need? :D
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