Veterans Day 2016

To start off I want to preface my post with the fact that I live one mile outside of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB) in Dayton, Ohio and my Grandfather was a 1st Airman in the Air Force and had served for 20 years until her retirement when he worked with WPAFB as a civilian for twenty years. With school growing up we always had field trips to the base and the Air Force Research Laboratory, and the National Museum of the United States Air Force (I practically have the exhibits memorized), and participated in activities partnered with WPAFB. So needless to say I grew up with the military even if it was not the traditional military ties.

Veterans Day for me usually consists of visiting my grandmother and remembering my grandfather and this service. I really wanted to be in town so I could go see him at his grave, but I now live three and a half hours away with no car. So I decided to use my Veterans Day to give back to veterans in my area, as a part of Kent State University's Super Service Saturday (aimed to help freshman give back to the community). We left the student center at 11:30 with hot dogs and hamburgers in tow so we could provide a barbecue and meet the veterans. Now personally I had an amazing time at Freedom House first, because it was the first time I could make living on (near) the base jokes and my love-hate relationship with the base (I love the base, but being woken up at midnight from a carrier shaking the house or the base traffic twice a day is a challenge). It was really nice to be able to have someone who understands military life and remember the fallen and the life my Opa had lived while he served for our country. Now I signed off to be confidential, but the residents at Freedom House are some of the best people and made me feel at home and beyond welcome. I implore everyone to realize that being in the military is not just an occupation, but a way of life. So take time out of your day to get to know a veteran(s) and give them the time and love you would give anyone because in my opinion veterans are some of the most caring and loyal people there are.