On Veterans Day, all Prairie Ridge students were given the opportunity to listen to a presentation in the theater given by local veterans on their experiences as being part of the armed forces.

From all five branches, a variety of men came through to answer questions and provide their insight on one of the most difficult jobs in the world: being a soldier. Included in the group was our own Mr. Lopez, who served in the Marine Corps from 2001 to 2009. “Being in the military is nothing like anything else I’ve experienced” he said. “It’s something you have to be apart of to know what it feels like.”

Most of the veterans made no mention of the combat they experienced. It’s the whole reason why they go overseas, but it’s the most difficult thing to talk about. This really struck a chord with me. It’s the reason people can’t sleep at night.  It’s why there are veterans who fought in war 40 years ago and still have nightmares. Combat is something they want to forget, so we can do a lot in helping them by keeping that off the table when talking with them.

But, this does not mean these men didn’t enjoy being in the armed forces.  Many shared stories of their Iraqi interpreters or guys getting in trouble. But above all, they talk about the brotherhood.

“When you finish your tour and you’re back stateside, if one of your guys is in trouble, you’ll drive all night to get there and help him. Even if you didn’t necessarily get along with them that well, you’ll do it for him, and he would do it for you,” said John Dillivan, a former Army member.

As I listened to these guys talk, they all had a lot of chemistry and seemed to get along really well. What shocked me was that these guys didn’t even know each other before the panel. The only thing they had in common was they lived in the same general area and joined the military.

If you didn’t see the panel, you definitely missed out on a great experience. I learned the most important thing about being in the military is not to take over a building or secure an area, it’s to make good men great and to create a brotherhood that lasts forever.

Prairie Ridge freshman Chris MacDonald attended the presentation. “The one thing I took away is the camaraderie … It’s truly amazing.”

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For more information about this event and Prairie Ridge’s care package drive for Operation Support Our Troops-America (OSOTA), read the District 155 article
Veterans Present to Students, Kick Off Supply Drive.