I’ve always thought of myself as a patriotic person; I am a supporter of our troops and I have deep American pride. My family raised me to be proud of our country and to fight to make it a better place. They raised me to respect our country and the brave men and women who serve it. And independently, I was fascinated by military documentaries and spent many nights watching all of the movies regarding war or soldiers on Netflix. Seeing and learning about the men and women who serve our country selflessly fills me with pride and a sense of motivation to serve my country as well. America has given me and my family so much, and there has always been a part of me that wants to serve in the military, so I have promised myself that whatever I end up doing someday, I want to serve my country in some shape or form and fulfill my American duty.

The two people that really showed me what it means to serve our country are my grandparents. Both of my grandfathers served in the United States military, one in the Navy during the Korean War and the other in the Coast Guard during the 50’s. My grandfathers are some of the strongest and bravest men I know. They are incredibly smart, capable and strong-willed men, who are amazing role models for me. They were so proud of their service and were always glad to share stories of their time overseas. My grandfathers got to see so much of the world during their time in the service, the good and the bad. They learned how to be hard-working, disciplined people, and how to serve our country and its citizens with pride and dignity. My grandfathers were proud to wear the uniforms of the American military. My grandfathers exemplify the very characteristics of an American soldier: loyalty, selflessness, honor, integrity, and courage. My grandpa, who served in the Navy, was so proud of his service that for the rest of his life he gave back to the veterans. As a veteran himself, my grandfather understood the needs of the veterans when they came back home and dedicated his life to honoring them and giving back. My grandpa showed me how a soldier serves his country with dignity and how to serve his fellow soldier’s and veterans at home with dignity and pride. He taught me the importance of honoring the men and women who serve us. He was so proud of his service, that he lays to rest in a military cemetery, where he will always be honored as the amazing soldier he was.

My grandfather’s taught me the importance of honoring our country and the brave men and women who serve it. They taught me the important values of respect, loyalty, courage and selflessness. They showed me that part of being an American is helping serve something bigger than yourself. I am so thankful for my grandfather’s service and for all of the men and women who have served our great nation. I am so grateful for our military and all that they do to keep our country safe. Veteran’s day might be a day off of school or work, but it is a reminder to give thanks for our nation and to all of the people who serve it with pride. Today, I honor my grandparents, Burton Forman and Jason Snyder who served in the United States Armed Forces with courage, bravery, and pride. Thank you for helping to keep our country safe.