Every November, my son’s school hosts a Veterans Day Program — and honestly, it’s one of my favorite events of the entire year. The first time I went, I had no idea what to expect. I figured it would be sweet, maybe a little patriotic. But by the end, I was wiping tears off my cheeks and wondering how a school assembly could hit me so hard.
Now, I know better — I pack tissues.
The students sing patriotic songs, there’s a reading or two, and every year a local veteran shares their story. It’s always moving. But the part that really gets me is the video at the end — a slideshow of photos featuring all the veterans connected to the school. Brothers and sisters, parents, grandparents, great-grandparents. You can feel the pride in the room.
The first year I saw it, I was sitting next to my grandma. As picture after picture flashed across the screen, I spotted familiar faces… and then suddenly, there he was — my grandpa. Young, proud, and serving as a Gunner’s Mate in the U.S. Navy.
Andrew never met his great-grandfather, but he shares his name. To see their photos side by side — Andrew John and John William Sr. — was incredible. Sitting there next to my grandma, watching her eyes fill with tears, it just hit me how special that moment was. Not to mention, my dad was there too, and he was tearing up as well! It wasn’t just a school program anymore. It was family. It was connection. It was legacy.
My grandfather passed away years ago, but moments like that make him feel close again. I don’t have many veterans in my family, and it’s important to me that my son understands the kind of sacrifice his great-grandfather made — and that so many others continue to make — so we can enjoy the freedoms we have today.
When I was little, I had to do a school project where I interviewed someone who lived through World War II. I chose my grandparents, and somewhere there’s a cassette tape of that conversation. I’d give anything to have that one back and hear their memories all over again.
Now, watching my son sing “God Bless America” with his classmates, I can’t help but think about how things come full circle. Veterans Day isn’t just a date on the calendar or a day off work. It’s a reminder to pause, listen, and remember — because behind every flag and every song is someone’s story.
So this Veterans Day, I’ll be sitting in that gym again — tissues in hand — grateful for the chance to remember, reflect, and teach my son what true service really means.
