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Health & Fitness

November-its not just Thanksgiving Day

While those who know everything burn the Flag and curse America, our elementary students are blessed with those who care enough to teach them Patriotism.

November 10 is the celebration of the birth of the Marine Corps. November 11 is Veterans' Day. If you never had the opportunity to walk in a uniform for a few years, this article may or may not interest you. If you are a Veteran of any stripe, please read on.

Have you ever wondered what they teach kids in school? Is the Pledge of Allegiance still recited aloud, or did it go the way of prayer in schools? Do teachers routinely change history to their own purposes, disregarding the sacrifices that Abraham Lincoln referred to "upon the Altar of Freedom"?

I can't speak for every school in the area, let alone the Commonwealth or the Nation, but I can tell you that every year on Veterans' Day, the children at Dormont Elementary School invite veterans to a wonderful program of celebration and remembrance. Red, White, and Blue are the predominant colors of the day, and the Young Marines set the table for one person who cannot attend, representing those Missing in Action or held as Prisoners of War.

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I cannot imagine a child in elementary school reciting a poem, singing a patriotic song, and otherwise hosting veterans without quite a bit of help from a very dedicated teaching staff. I'll be there again this year, sharing in the exuberance of small children and humbly accepting their thanks for years of service. There is a short question and answer period as well, and the children have insight that you and I have long ago lost. Only the innocence of youth, along with the guidance of their teachers and mentors, can produce some of the touching questions that sometimes require some real soul searching for an answer fitting for a ten year old, let alone a six year old.

So, if you're wondering, oh yes, the Pledge of Allegiance is recited. And, yes, the teachers tell stories of bravery and sacrifice. For me and for my fellow vets, it's always a combination of sadness over the loss of old friends on foreign fields of battle and the exhilaration of knowing that Duty, Honor and Country are still standards that our students learn.

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I'm hopeful that someone smarter than me can video tape the program, and post it to the Patch. Just try to focus on the children. We are there as invited guests, and quite frankly, it's just not about us. Its about the next generation who will be charged with insuring that Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness are preserved, no matter what the cost.

(If you're a Veteran, but haven't heard of this program and would like to attend, contact the Commander at McCormick-Dorman VFW Post 694 in Dormont. I'm sure there's room for those who would like to attend.)

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