Amanda Jung/Contributing Writer
Years ago, I began to learn what it really meant to be a veteran of war.
At the end of my eighth grade year, my classmates and I visited historic Civil War battlefields and World War monuments. My history teacher only made one request of us while we were there; he told us if we saw a veteran, to shake their hand and thank them.
Thank them for bidding their normal lives goodbye. Thank them for embracing the possibility of death so that our nation could succeed. Thank them for accepting that they might never see their families again.
A handshake was the least we could offer these selfless men and women.
It was surreal — we were standing on the battlefields where brave soldiers fought, and exploring places a textbook could easily gloss over.
Although I did not personally see any veterans there, the pathways were filled with people lost in a shuffle.
Some were crying while others silently reviewed the endless list of those who lost their lives in battle.
I was in the presence of so many strangers, but I instantly felt like I knew these people because we were connected by one thing, veterans.
At that point in my life, while I was standing at the National World War II Memorial, I realized how much had been sacrificed for the good of our country. It’s safe to say that without these veterans, America would have a different history, and for that matter, a different fate.
We all are connected to a veteran somehow. It might be a grandfather who was a pilot during the World War or perhaps an ancestor who fought in the Civil War.
Once you stand on the battlefields once covered in blood, sweat and tears, it puts your life in perspective.
You want to sit down with these people and understand their experiences. Of course, it’s not an easy thing to do for a veteran.
They have to sift through memories of war, many of which aren’t positive.
This was definitely the case for my grandfather, a pilot during World War II.
I had the honor of sitting down with him many years ago and talking to him about his experiences in the war.
Racking his brain was not an easy task considering how many years it had been since he served. But something I remember so clearly was the Nazi armband that he showed me.
This was considered a trophy of war; something he took to remember America’s victory by.
Without these victories of dedication and bravery displayed by veterans, we wouldn’t be able to enjoy the same freedoms we have today.
If I could see my grandfather once last time, I would shake his hand in a heartbeat.
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The opinions presented within this page do not represent the views of FIU Student Media Editorial Board. These views are separate from editorials and reflect individual perspectives of contributing writers and/or members of the University community.
Image retrieved from Flickr.
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