by N. Lee Austin

Created on: November 04, 2009

Understanding why Veteran's Day is so important. Ever since we were children, and there were fifteen of us, mom would call us all to the kitchen. "Today is a special day," she said with pride. On the table lay a box of red paper, green paper, and little bits of wire. There wasn't enough money to buy each of us a poppy, so we had to make them. She made the first to show us how and as we began to create our poppy she told this story.

"We are very lucky people. You see, we live in a country that many men and women died to keep us free. Some countries are run by dictators. A dictator is someone who thinks they can do what ever they want to their very own people. They want to have a perfect race of people. They killed a lot of poor souls. Women, men, even children. They threw them in mass graves like they were nothing but trash. America could not let this happen. So many of our military went acrossed the ocean to help fight the dictators. Each poppy we make stands for the soldiers who died trying to help. The red stands for the blood the shed. The green stands for the green grass that holds their body. There is a place over there called Flounders Field. It holds a lot of the soldiers who don't even have a name. It was a very bad war. There was more than one war. WWI, WWII, Korea, Viet Nam, and now Iraq, Pakistan. So many gave their lives just so we can live in America. "

"Mom, did we have any soldiers die in these wars?" we asked.

"Yes, your great uncle Orville Arnold, the man that the American Legion is named after." "He was a brave soldier." "Every one over there was a brave soldier. Today, after you have finished your poppy, you must wear it all day. If anyone asks why you have the flower on your shirt, you must tell them, I wear it for those who kept America free. Later we will walk to the cemetery and you will see all the flags. A person doesn't realize how many gave their lives until they see all the flags by the stones in the cemetery."

Every November 11th we did this. To this day we make our children wear the poppy. We visit the cemetery too! It must be remembered for one day we may not be free. As we tour the cemetery, the children look for any flags that may have fell down and they make sure they put them back in their place.

I guess the best part of the day was when daddy came home from work and we had each made him a poppy. He was proud though, proud enough to wear all fifteen poppies on his shirt. If we have the money we do buy the ones sold on the street corners because we know the money goes to help the soldiers still at war. Maybe we don't always agree with the war or it's reasoning but we must support the troops. Only one other person came on this earth knowing that he would die to give us our freedom from sin. We know His name.

He said, " There's no greater gift one can give another than to lay down his life for his fellow man. That is why we must remember these brave men and women, forever and ever. We must also tell our children why it must be done. We must fly our flag, we must pledge our allegiance, when you meet a man or woman in uniform, shake their hand and say "Thank you." You'll be surprised at the smile you will receive. Understanding Veteran's Day is the most important holiday this nation can observe, besides Easter.

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