On Wednesday, November 11 is Veteran’s Day. We take time to “officially” honor all of our Armed Service Veterans. To you Veterans, we owe a debt of gratitude because you were willing to serve this great country. Not only to serve but to give freely of yourselves on behalf of the United States of America. God bless you. Someone once wrote:

It is the VETERAN, not the preacher who has given us the freedom of religion.

It is the VETERAN, not the reporter who has given us the freedom of the press.

It is the VETERAN, not the community organizer who has given us the freedom for peaceful assembly.

It is the VETERAN, not the lawyer who has given us the right to a fair trial.

It is the VETERAN, not the politician who has given us the right to vote.

It is the VETERAN who always salutes the flag and gets misty-eyed doing so

It is the VETERAN who not only serves under the flag but will die preserving the flag.

Several years ago at the beginning of school, a teacher had all of her student’s desks removed from her classroom prior to the first day of school. She had permission from her local school board and school superintendent. On that first day of school, the kids came into the first period and immediately noticed there were no desks. One finally addressed the teacher asking, “Mrs. Jones, where are our desks?” She quietly replied, “No one can have a desk until you can tell me how you can earn them.” One student answered, “Well, maybe it’s about our grades.” She replied, “no.”

Another spurted out, “Is it our behavior?” She answered “No, it’s not even your behavior.” Well, the first period came and went and no desks in the classroom. Second period, same thing. Third period, still no desks in this teacher’s classroom. No student had any idea how they could earn their desks. However, by early afternoon, the local television news crew had heard about this and thought it was a newsworthy event. They began taping the interesting situation that was going on.

Throughout the day no one had figured out the empty classroom with no desks. At the beginning of the 7th and final class period and with all the students, other teachers, many parents and the local news media around, this teacher finally announced, “I am now ready to tell you how you students can earn your desk to sit and study this year in my classroom.”

She went over to the door of her classroom, opened it, and in walked in 27 U.S. Veterans, wearing their uniforms, each one carrying a school desk. They then placed the desks in rows and then proceeded to stand against the wall of the classroom. By the time all 27 desks were neatly placed row by row, these students, for the very first time realized and understood that there was no way they personally could earn their desks.

The teacher exclaimed, “You don’t have to earn your desks. These Veterans did it already for you. They set them up for you to sit in and learn but from here on in, it’s your responsibility to learn, be good students and good citizens because each one of these Veterans, and every Veteran like them, paid the price for you to have that desk. Don’t ever forget the price they paid for you.”

This is a true story. So today, we honor each and ever Veteran. Thank you for your service. And again, may God richly bless you.

That’s The Way I See It. Let me know how you see things at jsheda@indyel.com or call me at 319.327.4640.