Veterans Day is a day set aside to pay respect and tribute to the men and women who have served in the United States armed forces. It is a time to be thankful for their dedication, bravery, and sacrifices.
Veterans Day originated at the end of World War I. An agreement was signed on November 11, 1918, to end the fighting. That date became known as Armistice Day and was declared a holiday in 1938. Following World War II and the Korean War, the holiday became known as Veterans Day in 1954 in honor of all U.S. veterans.
While Memorial Day honors those who have died in service, Veterans Day is to thank the living veterans for their contributions. It reminds us of the sacrifices and freedoms that they have protected.
In celebration of this special day, The Patriot Voice would like to take the time to recognize two veteran teachers in our school community who share a part of their story.
Anne Ream is a substitute teacher at our school and a retired staff sergeant with the United States Air Force. After college, Ream was looking for a change of pace and a chance to see new places. “I wanted to do something different and the Air Force gave me a lot of options,” said Ream. “I also wanted to see the world and the Air Force offered free training. I even got to choose my base.” Her career took her to Europe and South Korea, among other places, she describes as “a great experience.”
However, Ream never gave up. “The hardest thing, honestly, was being a female in the late ’80s,” she said. Ream’s dream was to be a jet engine mechanic, but most thought that was “a man’s job.” She didn’t let this deter her, and she completed her training for the job of jet engine mechanic. “I had to keep proving I could do more than sit behind a desk,” she said.
Ream was proud of her role on the flight line, working to break barriers for military women. “Women were supposed to remain in desk jobs or more traditional ‘woman’s roles,'” Ream remembered. “But as I went through, we were breaking barriers. Even though it was rough, I came out on top, so I was pretty excited about that.” Ream noted that women in the military at the time were fighting for equal opportunities. “The Navy didn’t want to put women on ships, and women weren’t allowed to be pilots. So I went to the Air Force, and they said yes. Now, anyone can go anywhere and do any job.”
Retired Army O-6 colonel and current 10th-grade World History teacher Kenneth Jennings had a different route into military service. “I originally joined the Army because I just needed money,” Jennings admitted. “I was flunking out of college, I was broke, and I was about to get kicked out. “I needed something to do for the summer that would pay the bills and keep a roof over my head.” A recruiter suggested the Army Reserve and Jennings decided to give it a try. “For me, it was just the most magic that could happen,” he said. “I was totally lost in school, joined the military, went away for the summer, and came back as a new person.”
Jennings can’t help but reflect on his toughest time in the Army serving as an operations officer while at the rank of major. “My hardest time was probably when I was in charge of planning for the entire brigade,” he said. “I’d get to work around 7 a.m. and wouldn’t leave until 7 or 8 p.m.”. That was for two, three years, and I was pretty well burnt out.” He added, “I felt like I had to put my family on hold. I only got to see them an hour or two each night, a few weekends a month. It was pretty hard.”
Despite the challenges, Jennings found joy in experiences such as attending airborne school at Fort Benning, Georgia. “I was in ROTC at the University of Arkansas and got the opportunity to go to airborne school,” he said. “I am kind of afraid of heights, but running all day, learning how to fall, and finally jumping out of an airplane was just exhilarating.” This experience, he said, rejuvenated his interest in the Army. “At the time, I thought ROTC was full of good old boys, but airborne school showed me what the Army was really about. If you try your best, you can succeed. It was perfect.”
Veterans Day provides the unique opportunity to honor the sacrifices and accomplishments of active and retired teachers like Anne Ream and Kenneth Jennings. Their fortitude in the face of hardship, bravery, and dedication to serving is laudable on their merits. Still, their stories serve to remind the nation that the country will never be able to forget what is owed to them and all those who took up the uniform in defense of freedom. Ream and Jennings have inspired and impacted their fellow citizens through years of military service and now in the classroom.
We thank them for their service and extend our most heartfelt gratitude on Veterans Day.
