November 11th: A Day For Mourning, A Day For Reflection
Rob Ivory
Issue date: 11/16/09 Section: News
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With the chaos that comes with the beginning of the Holiday season, it is always nice to have a day for reflection and silence. But, last week the world took a day to remember those who had and are serving in the military, Veterans' Day.
It is a tradition that started because of the great tragedies that had occurred to mankind in the First World War. Life in the trenches and on the front was unbearable for the men that had to endure the conditions and elements of sitting sometimes yards from your enemy.
From this horrible war came a beautiful idea that we should gather together as a nation and remember all those that had fought and died for the beliefs and ideas that Americans hold so dear. At the same time, we tell those veterans that were lucky to escape the greatest sacrifice of their life and thank them for going into conflicts knowing that they may not come home alive.
That is why Project SERV (Supportive Education for the Returning Veteran) has been one of the most important programs at Cleveland State. Not only do students get to learn from the experiences that these men and women have gone through, but it also gives the returning veteran a chance to get accustomed to life after military duty.
These men and women made the choice to give up civilian life in the reward for serving their nation, when in some countries in the world there is not a choice, rather it is mandatory job that one is required to complete at a young age.
As mentioned above, the day is set aside to come together and to remember. World War One's enemies Germany and France came together on Armistice Day last week to reconcile the war that took nearly 20 million men. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy came together at the Arc de Triomphe to never forget that in some capacity we are all brothers and sisters.
Getting to go to military cemeteries in Europe for those who perish in both world wars or even to a national cemetery that is close to home, one can realize that although we may not agree on certain government policies or don't have the same ideas on different issues, we are all Americans, and we should be proud of that and those who gave their life so that we can quarrel in the pursuit of a perfect life.
Finally, if there one thing that the general public can do to let the current solders know they have allies at home, is simply remind them that they are all heroes in the grand scheme of things.
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