To many college students, November 11 is a welcome day off from end-of-the-semester stress. Many of us don’t consider what the day off is really celebrating — apart from a break from classes, tests, and studying.
The reason we have off from school on November 11 is because it’s Veterans Day. Veterans Day is a federal holiday meant to honor the 23 million Americans who have fought for our country. These men and women who served often don’t get the recognition they deserve, and even on the day of the year that is meant to honor their service, they still go unrecognized by many.
This year, instead of only using the day off for your personal enjoyment, do something to help or show your appreciation for our veterans. If you know veterans who are friends or family, let them know you appreciate their service. Ask to hear their stories, and how they were affected from their time at war. If you don’t personally know any veterans, there are still ways to show your appreciation. You can thank veterans in uniform for their service, wear red, white, and blue to show your American pride, send letters and care packages to soldiers currently serving, or find a way to volunteer to help veterans within your community.
There are many simple ways to take part in the true purpose of Veterans Day, so take a break from your Netflix binge-watching and show your support and appreciation. Once you know how good it feels to help those who have fought for our country, you may even want to keep it up and show your support not only on Veterans Day, but every day of the year.