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The Simmons Voice

The Student News Site of Simmons University

The Simmons Voice

The Student News Site of Simmons University

The Simmons Voice

An open letter to the Simmons College administration

This letter was submitted by a Simmons College undergraduate student, who has preferred to remain unnamed

I am writing to you in regard to having classes on Veterans Day in future years. The day we set aside in order to acknowledge and honor those who have fought and sacrificed and continue to fight and sacrifice for our freedom.

I respect your decision of the school schedule and the continuation of our courses, so that we are able to cover all of the needed and important material. I am bewildered at the fact that we do not take classes off on November 11th. After all, Simmons is a liberal college and we would not have the safety or freedom we have to pursue our true identities and ambitious if it weren’t for the men and women who step forward and fight for us and out country…our country in which we, as a democracy, create out laws and voice our opinions freely.

Incredibly, we, in America, are able to feel absolutely passionate about a cause and we do not have to hide our feelings out of fear, but rather share our feelings with others. We are not constantly afraid because we are under a fair and striving police force and law that protect us from evils. We would not have this if it weren’t for the history of soldiers who have given years, given youth, given time away from loved ones, given their limbs and most importantly given their lives to preserve our land, our home and an opportunity to build something unimaginably great that will never stop growing in every aspect.

Educationally and economically, we continue to spread news of diversity and culture as we help one another grow in life.

After all, is not the education system that spends years on years teaching youth about American history, about the wars that left so many casualties and helped us to recognize some of the greatest men and women of all time?

Is it not the American school systems that take time in the morning to stand and recognize our freedom by pledging allegiance to the American flag?

We are united by our freedom. We live FREE lives. Even if we do not always feel free, we always have an out. We are never trapped. We have the ability to CHOOSE.

We take long weekends to recognize other holidays, such as the most recent Columbus Day. My personal belief as an American is to take a day to remember and to honor the men and women who have stepped forward with their will to fight for something that they believe is valuable enough to give their lives for.

Without these men and women of the United States Military where would we be today? Where would we, as a country, as a people, as a world, be? I was raised learning how to be polite, always using “please” and “thank you”. I think Veterans Day is one of the most important “thank yous” we can learn to give.

I am a strong, independent young woman, who believes strongly that when one deserves respect and honor, they shall receive it, because when I deserve it, I want to receive it as well. I come from a line of veterans who have fought in numerous branches of the military in WWI, WWII, the Vietnam War, and the Iraq War. War has affected my family, but the past cannot be changed and we must acknowledge what has been our history.

The wisdom that my veteran relatives have thrust upon me is something I will always willingly take with me through life. I learn from them to fight for a cause that you truly believe in, without fear. If what you feel is right then you pursue is with every strength and passion you have. We learn from veterans and that is undeniable.

For most veterans the fight is not over when they come home. My uncle lost his left leg in the Vietnam War and was a recipient of the Purple Heart. After losing his leg, his life was altered and affected vastly. He was diagnosed with diabetes and this later took his life. No one can fully understand what our veterans endure. Every veteran has a story, incomparable to things most of us experience domestically.

Veterans Day, to me, is a time to remember my uncle, to remember my grandfather, my grandmother. It is a time to recognize the war heroes that are in my life: my two cousins, four of my uncles, and most importantly my father; along with countless others.

I can speak for myself and hopefully for others when I say I feel ashamed that Veterans Day is going unrecognized at Simmons College as we continue classes and our regular routine on November 11th as we would any other day.

Veterans Day: (noun) – a public holiday held on the anniversary of the end of the World War I (November 11th) to honor US veterans and the victims of all wars.

In conclusion, I ask that you reconsider the decision to create a schedule in which you hold classes on Veterans Day.

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