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| Opinion | |
| Written by Aaron Cedeño | |
| Wednesday, 18 November 2009 09:00 | |
I know it seems like I spend many of my columns talking about my childhood, but there’s a reason for that, I promise.  It’s because I always enjoy reading columnists who make you feel like you’re getting to know a little bit about them, beyond the picture attached to their column every week. One of the best things about my job is that I get to meet so many new people and hear their stories, and I like to believe that you guys like learning a little about me in return. I hope that’s the case, anyway. If not, well, I’m the one with the keyboard. Just kidding. On Nov. 11, I attended Louisburg Middle School’s first Veterans Day ceremony, and came away extremely impressed on a number of levels. Principal Brian Biermann, band director John Cisetti, the entire LMS staff and, of course, the students obviously put a great deal of effort into the event. There were many local veterans in attendance, sitting front and center, and the appreciation showed to them by the more than 400 students in attendance was a wonderful tribute to the sacrifices they’ve made in keeping this country safe. I was fortunate enough to grow up around military men. Both of my grandfathers served in the United States Army; my paternal grandfather in the Pacific Theater in World War II, and my maternal grandfather shortly thereafter, stationed in Korea. My dad enlisted in the Air Force right out of college, and after completing medical school and the subsequent residency program, served for 10 years as a flight surgeon. Finally, my father-in-law is a retired Navy Seal and a veteran of the Vietnam War. As you can see, I’ve had quite a few military influences in my life, and all of them have shown enormous pride in serving their country. Even with those influences, however, I’m not sure I fully appreciated the level of sacrifice and commitment it takes to enlist in the armed forces. As a kid, my dad was stationed in the Phillippines for three years, and for the final two my family lived on Clark Air Base. Located on Luzon Island, the base was a strategically important one for many years — serving as an American stronghold during World War II and a crucial center for logistical support during the Vietnam War. My siblings and I attended an elementary school on-base named for General Douglas MacArthur, a famed commander during World War II, but other than that, our time on the base seemed pretty normal. We lived within a bubble of “Americanization” that offered most of the comforts of home. We lived in a comfortable home, we played outside in the park near our house and swam in the pool at the Officer’s Club. We ate at Burger King, went to movies and played with friends. It was typical kid stuff, and though we left the base just a few steps in front of Mount Pinatubo 1991, all of my memories from there are ones that I cherish. But while looking around at the packed auditorium on last week, I realized that recent events in our country’s history have probably afforded many of today’s kids a greater appreciation for the military than I had at their age — despite my familiarity with the service. Though many of them probably don’t remember the events of September 11, 2001 with much clarity, the United States has been embroiled in a war in the Middle East for a significant chunk of their childhood, a war that’s obviously ongoing today. In this close-knit community, it seems that so many know of someone affected by that war — often a friend or a family member who enlisted. So when they stood and applauded Louisburg’s veterans on Wednesday, sang songs and played with the band, those gestures come loaded with a level of respect beyond their years. You could tell that the veterans in attendance truly appreciated the gesture. Like a lot of people, I try to keep those who serve in my thoughts and prayers on a regular basis, but it never hurts to have a reminder. Here’s hoping that the ceremony at LMS becomes an annual tradition.
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