A heart-warming story for tomorrow…
Back in 
2005, a social studies schoolteacher from Arkansas did something not to be forgotten.
On the first day of school, with permission of the school superintendent, the principal, and the building supervisor, she took all of the desks out of the classroom.
The kids came into first period, they walked in; there were no desks. They obviously looked around and said, “Where’s our desks?”
The teacher said, “You can’t have a desk until you tell me how you earn them.”
They thought, “Well, maybe it’s our grades.”
“No,” she said.
“Maybe it’s our behavior.”
And she told them, “No, it’s not even your behavior.”
And so they came and went in the first period, still no desks in the classroom. Second period, same thing. Third period. By early afternoon television news crews had gathered in the class to find out about this crazy teacher who had taken all the desks out of the classroom.
The last period of the day, the instructor gathered her class. They were at this time sitting on the floor around the sides of the room.
She said, “Throughout the day no one has really understood how you earn the desks that sit in this classroom ordinarily. Now I’m going to tell you.”
She went over to the door of her classroom and opened it, and as she did 27 U.S. veterans, wearing their uniforms, walked into that classroom, each one carrying a school desk. And they placed those school desks in rows, and then they stood along the wall. And by the time they had finished placing the desks, those kids for the first time I think perhaps in their lives understood how they earned those desks.
Their teacher said, “You don’t have to earn those desks. These guys did it for you. They put them out there for you, but it’s up to you to sit here responsibly, to learn, to be good students and good citizens, because they paid a price for you to have that desk, and don’t ever forget it.”
We can honor all those who have served and are serving, not just by our paying lip service to their commitment, but also by our living and working as good citizens in order to deserve all that they have done and are doing to ensure our freedoms.
We are never too old, nor too young, to express our thanks for the veterans we know and those we remember.
What thoughts come to your mind as you think about this day of remembrance?
6 Comments
I have many thoughts about military service. Several family members served in WW 1 and two more in WW 2. My brother and I served during the VietNam War. I think of them and of those I served with in the USAF and of our jobs serving our country. I also had a relative who was at Valley Forge with Gen Washington and died following a battle.
I remember a friend of Sandi who died in the VietNam War. Lots to quietly think about and honor all those who served for all of us.
Earl
Earl, When we take the time to think about it I believe we all have known of someone who deserves our gratitude for what they have done for us and our country! It’s a great reminder!
Having lived in several foreign countries and having had family members who served in the military I appreciate this great country of ours and those who protect it for us and who dedicate their lives for our freedom!
Tish, with my son Jeff who was in the Marines and my stepson Craig who is in the Army currently, I too feel an appreciation for all of those who have and are serving.
yes today brings up lots of memories and I love the fact that we have a national holiday to honor our vets..
It has taken us the last couple of wars to do this, but I am glad and appreciate the idea that we have learned to separate the war from the warrior. Especially since such a high percentage the last ten years are people enlisting for economic opportunity as well as service. We probably would still have all of our freedoms even if we had not invaded Iraq and Afghanistan. But the fact that military personnel are willing to sacrifice family, their youth and possibly their lives to serve the country in any capacity is awe-inspiring and I honor them for that.