No two people have ever fought the exact same battle or have the ability to be unstoppable, that’s why Veteran’s Day recognizes and remember so many Veteran’s who have made an individual impact on the freedom of our country. 

“The veteran I would like to honor is (retired) Master Sergeant Gerald Joseph Grant. He is a WWII veteran that resides at New Mark Care Center in KC, MO. He shares with me treasured, and at times painful memories from his wartime experiences. He is an amazing 96-year-old man, and I enjoy seeing him every weekend when I visit,” freshman Connor Peters said.

Everyone has a different feeling towards Veteran’s Day depending on how they were directly or indirectly affected.

“It means a lot, probably more to him since he was actually in combat. I always tell him ‘Happy Veteran’s Day’ even though he is still alive. He always reminds me, ‘Ya know, I’m not dead. Veteran’s Day is for people who have passed away’. I know, I just think he deserves it. He fought for our country. I feel like since he is still alive, I might as well. There’s no harm in telling him right? That’s my philosphy. Like I said, since he is still alive, why not. He served for our country, so he deserves it. It takes a great person to do that, and he is without a doubt one of them,” senior Erin Zavadil said. 

Stories shared by Veterans that get passed down to future generations can range from survival to victory to battle scars depending on each Veteran’s unique experiences while serving.

“While my father was in training, one of his missions was to hide from his drill sergeant. It’s been a few hours and they haven’t eaten anything. As they are continuing their journey, they spot their drill sergeant in a car; so they dive into a field to hide from them. They take a look around and see that they dove into a patch of baby corn. After a few hours of indulging themselves with baby corn they came to realize that they will probably never eat baby corn again. They managed to survive two days out in the fields,” junior Travis Akin said.

Recognized for their service sometimes Veterans receive awards for all they have done for our country. 

“My great-grandpa received the Purple Heart Award for taking a piece of shrapnel to the left inside ankle. The shrapnel was from an artillery shell that burst near the Jeep he was riding at the time and he also received the Bronze Star Medal “for meritorious conduct in action from 10 June 1944 to 25 August 1944, in France,” freshman Connor Peters said.

Veterans can still make a huge impact after they have served by touching the hearts of loved ones and shaping our future generations’ morality.

“I am extremely proud to be the great-grandson of this outstanding man, Master Sergeant Gerald J. Grant. He still tells me stories regarding World War II, and has really changed my view on it,” freshman Connor Peters said.