11/14/2022
This is an Email I received this morning from a History teacher at Hickory High School:
"Last week, I had my students watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEN03uXthTw
It was captivating and very well done. After the video, I encouraged my students to write a message to veterans, thanking them for their service and including any other personal thoughts. I compiled them together into one document and attached them to this email. I hope you enjoy their words. I found them very touching. Feel free to pass the document along to any veterans you come in contact with or anyone else. I removed their names, so they're all anonymous.
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The following are from Hickory High School students:
Dear Veterans…
I would like to say thank you for your service. Your bravery, strength, and sacrifices don't go unnoticed, and we will always honor you and your families for all that you have given to the country. So thank you for being many people's heroes and giving us freedom. You matter. America without soldiers is like God without his angels.
I cannot even begin to express my gratitude for the sacrifices that you have made for the good of this country. As a first-generation American, it is especially unique and identifiable that this nation that we live in grants us the freedoms and liberties that we desire, and that would not be the case if it wasn't for all that you have done to ensure it. Thank you for your services, you will never be forgotten.
Thank you for providing your nation with the ultimate sacrifice. Your hard work and dedication is not forgotten.
Thank you for putting your life on the line and fighting for this country, I have the utmost respect and gratitude for what you did.
Thank you for your services and the sacrifices that you have made for our country.
Thank you for your service, our young generation still shows gratitude and will not forget your service for our country and will continue not to forget.
First off, I would like to thank you for what you have done for our country and how you have sacrificed everything for us to be safe. We care and we will honor what you have done.
Thank you for answering the call of duty. Thank you for sacrificing your worldly possessions, your relationships with loved ones, and your heart to serve our country. Your bravery will forever be an inspiration to all who follow. I pray for you in your future endeavors and remain eternally in debt to you for my bright future. Thank you for sacrificing everything for others to live comfortably and safely.
Thank you for fighting for our country! There are so many brave veterans who have so much courage to fight for us and I can't explain how thankful I am. There are no words to describe how grateful I am for you. - A highschooler
In honor of this day I just wanted to thank you for your service and the sacrifices made to protect the place where you live. I genuinely respect you and your will to keep going and I wish you the best in your future endeavors.
Thank you for fighting for my country, thank you for fighting for my freedom, and independence. I can't imagine how scary and horrifying it must have felt preparing for combat with no certainty that you will see tomorrow. I probably will never experience a situation like that in my lifetime, but thank you for being brave.
Thank you for everything you have done for this Country. You have been through what no one should ever go through and we are all proud of you for staying strong. We all support and want the best for you. Thank you again. It really means the most.
I wanted to thank you for your service in those hard times. My anxiety would be going crazy if I was in your shoes in the war. I couldn't even imagine the things you went through. Our country is still standing strong and tall because of you.
You are so brave for everything you have done for this country. Americans, no matter what year, will always look up to you. Thank you so much for fighting.
Thank you deeply for your service, I hope you get the recognition you deserve.
I want to take this time to thank you for your service and for sacrificing your life to keep us safe. We wouldn't be the country we are today without you. I would never be able to leave my family for months on end to protect this country like you.
Thank you! Thank you for the dedication, time, and effort you put in to make sure America stays safe. You are loved and honored by America for all the troubles you have been through in the war.
Thank you for putting your life and freedom above mine. There are no words to explain how much it means that you are willing to go through pain and suffering for me and everyone else in America. I think that becoming a veteran is not an easy decision or job to carry out, and that is what makes it so special. Everyone is very grateful for your service.
Thank you for your service. Your dedication, courage, bravery, and loyalty do not go unnoticed. Your time away from your families, your sacrifices made, and the long hours you put in will be something we will forever be thankful for. So proud of you all and all of your accomplishments!
Thank you for putting your life on the line and sacrificing yourself for the greater good of the country. In a world where things like that are not appreciated as much, it must make it even harder to be a veteran. I understand that for some veterans the war never stops. Not only the physical aspects but the psychological and mental torment that comes with serving.
God Bless America.
Thank you so much for the service you've done for our country. You risked your life for the entire country, and your service is very much appreciated. You are a hero who deserves the world from all of us.
I just wanna say thank you for going out there and being an amazing person. I also wanna say that you are a true hero for doing this.
Thank you for your service. Thank you for fighting for our country. Living the way we do in this country would not be possible without you. I could never imagine doing what you did.
I want to thank the veterans for their service to keep our country protected and safe. I feel like the United States wouldn't be the same without your service. I wish you all a great day.
Thank you for your service and for protecting me and my loved ones. Being that dedicated to your county is very inspiring and incredible to see. It takes a lot to be sent out to a battlefield knowing that it's not always positive. I respect everything that you do for us. It means more than anything to me and my family.
As a grandchild of a war vet, I want you to personally know how thankful I truly am. Both my great-grandpa and grandpa fought in wars. I know that when my great-grandpa was alive he shared stories of world war II, and I never got the chance to meet him, but I got to hear stories of the hero he is. My papa was in Vietnam and served for 25 years in the air force. Coming from a family of vets, I saw just an insight into how the war affected them. For the sacrifices you made and the wounds you endured, I wanted to say thank you for everything.
Thank you first and foremost for your service to The United States of America. Myself and many others will be forever indebted to you from taking you years away from your life to serve our great land.
Thank you for your service. I appreciate the fight for our country and keeping everyone here safe. I have veterans in my family, and I know their stories mean a lot to them. I think you are very brave and strong for fighting.
Thank you for making the extreme sacrifice of service. Courage to protect our freedom such as yours is not found in many men. To be willing to lay down your life for your country and fellow men is not common to many. Thank you so much for all that you have done.
Thank you for your service and the sacrifices that you might have made defending our country and our freedom. Thank you for your bravery and courage while ensuring the freedom of the next generations of Americans. I'm glad that we have people like you that are willing to fight to keep us safe and free such as my great grandfather who served in the army in world war two.
Thank you so much for all you have done. I could not imagine the things you had to go through. Risking your life to save others is an incredible thing that I will never forget.
Praying for you! Thank you again!
Thank you for your service. I don't know you personally but you made the world a better place for me, my kids and my kids' kids. I appreciate everything you did, and I am astonished that you put your life on the line for this country, for us. I have the highest respect for you and we will always honor you.
I can't imagine what it would be like to be you. I want to thank you for what you have done to serve the people of the United States. War is a tragic thing, and I am glad that you were able to return. You have done a very brave thing that not many would be able to handle. Thank you for all that you have done.
Thank you soldier, or well soldiers because I cannot just address one of you for the heroic actions and deeds you have done for this country. The things that you men and women have done for our country for countless generations, the bloodshed, the countless tears, the endless sorrow, and suffering that most of you have gone through just to give us a chance to wake up every day, to live and breathe comfortable lives with our families and friends. I thank you, soldier, for putting your life on the line for us, I thank you for doing what most would not do, I thank you for defending and fighting for what is right because without the sacrifice you have made, I may not be sitting here writing this letter. I hope and pray that all is well. Sincerely, A senior at Hickory High school.
Thank you for serving this country and ensuring that we are safe from foreign invaders. I'm sorry that you had to lose so much time with the people that you loved to serve this country. I hope one day you can feel appreciated for what you've done, for it has filled me with a sense of relief that I can stay safe due to your sacrifice.
Thank you so much for your service. My grandfather and Uncle both served, and I know how much their time meant to them. I hope that you get some time to take some much-deserved rest and spend time with those around you. Thank you for giving me the ability to do the same. Thank you
Thank you for sacrificing so much for our country. Thank you for leaving your family, and your loved ones, to fight for the freedom I am forever grateful for. I may not know you, or what you've had to do, but I am grateful for you.
Thank you for all you have done for our country. Your bravery and passion have not gone unnoticed. I admire the work that you have done and hope that one day, I can acquire the courage you hold. Putting yourself in a situation like combat is not something that just anyone would do. Not for a million dollars. You do it for us. A group of millions of people you don't even know. The luxuries of life that are taken for granted would not be here if it wasn't for your work to not only get them here but to keep them. I live a life full of opportunity, love, support, and health because of you. I honor you and respect the work that you have given to me, to my friends, and to my family. Finding a way to thank you is never enough for what you have done but all I can say is thank you for your courageous and successful efforts to keep me safe, you are a hero to millions and I will always be in awe of your work.
You are loved by many, thank you.
Thank you for your sacrifice for us without hesitation. Thank you for not backing down and doing all you can to help our country prevail. Thank you for not giving up and fighting. You have shaped our country into the success it carries and will continue to carry. Thank you.
Thank you for your service to our country and for being brave. It means a lot that someone would always be willing to risk their lives for our safety and freedom. So, I just wanna say thank you for your service again and for always being there when we need you most.
Thank you for being so selfless and for risking your life to protect our country, our rights, and our freedom. I appreciate your hard work and determination in everything you do.
In this letter, I don't just want to thank you, I want you to look back. What spurred you to join the military? Was it patriotism? Honor? Family? The first time you wore your uniform, what did you feel? Proud? Nervous? A little awkward? All those feelings that you felt, I am proud to know that they were for us, the people of America. Thank you for everything you gave up so that we can continue living the lives we do. Thank You.
Thank you for your service and personal sacrifices. Words cannot express my gratitude for keeping our country safe and free and for upholding and defending democracy across the world for the United States.
Your sacrifices, bravery, and strength do not go unnoticed, we will always be indebted to you and all veterans. You have given our country your life, time, energy, and love.
Thank you for your service.
Thank you for your service and sacrifice. Thanks to you I am able to stride through life safely. I hope you will realize your true importance to the country and its people. You deserve endless amounts of appreciation, love, and recognition.
Thank you for your service and for sacrificing yourself for our country and generations ahead of time. Nobody will ever be able to repay you brave heroes for what you've accomplished. I think a lot of people forget about our troops today not knowing all the sacrifices they're making even though they're not at war.
I have realized the older I grow the more I understand how your experience has impacted my life. You are appreciated so much for your bravery and loyalty to our country. I cannot thank you enough for all you have done and all of the sacrifices you have made. You have made a difference and have become a hero in many people’s eyes.
Dear sir and or ma'am, thank you for your service. Thank you for being brave enough to answer the call of duty when others would not. Thank you for fighting to keep people's freedoms and lives safe. Thank you for being an inspiration to stand up for what's right.
Thank you for your service. I understand you don't always get the credit you should, but you deserve all the credit in the world. Because of you, people have remained safe in this country. We don't have to go to war because of you, you gave your lives to protect ours, that's an ultimate honor nobody can take away from you. I have the utmost respect for you and I want you to know that. You do something most people can't, so take great pride in that, and remember that we appreciate everything you've done. Thank you for your service.
Thank you for the sacrifices that all of you Veterans made in order to serve the people, I am so entirely grateful for everything you have done, and thank the ones who have sacrificed themselves for our country.
Thank you for serving our country and serving us to continue living normal lives. Thank you for putting your life on the line for our nation. It truly inspires me how much bravery you as veterans have and embrace. I could never imagine what it would be like to be in war, but I know it is horrible so thank you.
I just wanted to thank you so much for your service and all that you have done for this country. If it wasn't for all of you veterans that fought hard in the war we probably wouldn't be where we are today or even have as much freedom as we have right now. So again thank you so much for your service and have a blessed day.
Thank you for serving our country and making our country great and safe.
Thank you for your service to this country. Thank you for making it so that we can have freedom in this country. Thank you for the things that we can do in the country now since we have the freedom and peace that we need. Thank you for making the world a better place so that we don't have to worry about problems. Thank you for all the pain you had to go through for us so that we did not have to.
I wanted to take the time to thank you for your endless sacrifices, your selfless actions of bravery, and your loyalty to the country I call home. I think your efforts shouldn't go unnoticed in the world and we should honor and recognize you more frequently than we do. I firmly believe that because of you our world is becoming a better and safer place. I appreciate the will you have and care for others that you constantly displayed day to day when away at war or when you were spending time in a hostile environment. I think because of your selflessness young men are only going to follow in your footsteps and defend what they believe in.
Thank you for your service and your bravery throughout fighting for our country. Thank you for risking your life for us and having the courage to go out and fight.
I am thankful and grateful for all you have put at risk to ensure a better tomorrow and for a better future for younger generations.
Thank you for your service. My great grandpa fought in World War II and it's a great honor. Thank you for being brave and courageous and protecting my family, and country.
Thank you for your service to our country. If anything were to happen, God forbid it, I wish you only the best and to always stay safe. I will continue sending my prayers for your protection.
All I have is thank you. Thank you for the sacrifices that you made that I would never have the courage to make. You are the reason why I'm safe and the reason why this country stays safe. I realize it's more than just going to war and fighting but a commitment you have made to this country and one that will be remembered forever. You have created a legacy and become an inspiration to so many. Thank you.
I thank you for your service and protection of me and my loved ones. Without your sacrifice, the world might not be the same as it is now. I thank you for going over a thousand miles away from home to help stop all the wrongdoing. Your bravery and courage is appreciated and I thank you for all that you have done.
I am extremely thankful for all of your service. All of your actions toward helping this country have never gone unnoticed. Your enduring braveness and hard work have helped our country so much. You risked your life so that I can live my life. I am so grateful for all you have done. Thank you for serving and protecting our nation.
I don't know who you are or what contributions you've made. I just want to thank you for the bravery that you gave to this country and for going through what you did. Whether you notice it often or not, everyone around you appreciates what you did. Most of us can't even imagine what happened during your service. We are so lucky to have men and women like you who fought for this country.
Thank you for your service in the war and for helping us fight for our freedom. We wouldn't be here if it wasn't for your efforts and sacrifices. Thank you for giving us the opportunities and chances we have today. Thank you for fighting for us and doing everything you did, we all truly support it and honor you on veterans day.
Thank you for dedicating yourself to upholding the constitution and protecting our nation, it is so incredibly selfless and you are appreciated so much.
Thank you for your sacrifices, both in the line of duty and in the world back stateside after your service is over. I have had 3 grandparents, a cousin, and many other family members that have served across multiple branches of the military, so I have heard many stories of the things that have to be endured in the line of duty. I also know how much you sacrifice outside of the line of duty, the tolls that the missed holidays, birthdays, and graduations have on you, and it makes me even more grateful that you were willing to sacrifice that to protect our freedom back home. It can never be said enough, thank you for your service.
First and foremost: thank you. You see some horrifying things in the military - everyone knows this, yet you chose to serve regardless. This is not only a brave feat, but an honorable one. I do not know what led you to your decision. I do not know your story. Regardless, thank you for your service and all you have done for us.
I want to say thank you for sacrificing your time, peace, and potentially your life for us. You guys are at the heart of this country and what it stands for. I know that being in the service, especially during wartime, can be tough and not everyone can do it. I know that without your service, I wouldn't be able to get out of bed and complain about my classes. You are the heroes every country needs, and I'm grateful that you guys can be our heroes.
Thank you, veteran, for your service to our nation. It is always heartwarming and comforting to know that there are so many men and women who honorably fought, and still fight, for us.
Dear Vietnam Veterans…
Veteran, I want to say thank you for your service. You put your life on the line for this country and at that time they were not very thankful for you. I am very thankful that you put your life on the line. - a very thankful highschool student
Thank you so much for your service and bravery. I am so inspired by the sacrifices you made and as a great-granddaughter of a Vietnam veteran, I appreciate you greatly.
I would like to thank you for your service. I am so sorry you had to go through what you did just to come home to a bunch of angry people. Nobody deserved that. I will never forget your bravery and courageousness. Thank you, a thankful high school student
I would like to deeply thank you for your service. You endured so much; losing friends, and family and dealing with the harsh opinions of those when you came back. You have done so much, and you deserve to take the day to celebrate the hard work you have put in.
Thank you for your service in the Vietnam war. You are appreciated by many for your service. I can't imagine the amount of bravery you have to be able to go and fight for our country in war. Not only that, but to make it out alive and be able to tell of your experiences in the war. It's truly incredible and your sacrifices will never be forgotten.
I would like to say thank you for being brave enough to be able to even go into this war, having no clue what you are getting into. I have a brother in the Navy, and thinking about him going into a life or death war like this, is very scary and nerve-wracking. Without brave people like you, our country would be very different. We owe our freedom to you.
Thank you for so selflessly devoting yourself to our safety and what we stand for as a country. You are truly courageous, honorable, and strong to risk your life for the peace and well-being of the people in this country. What you went through will not be forgotten, and neither will those who were lost. We are forever grateful to heroes like you.
Even if everyone didn't welcome you back at the time, know there are always more people who are grateful than those that are spiteful.
I just wanted to say thank you for your service to our country and the sacrifice you made when you enlisted to fight alongside others in the Vietnam War. I am also sorry for what you had to go through during the war.
First of all, I would like to say thank you for your service. It is probably something you hear a lot, but I do not think that gratitude is given enough. My grandfather fought in Vietnam, and I remember him telling me, when I was little, of his experience. Growing up hearing a veteran's stories is very eye-opening, even at a young age, in which I couldn't imagine myself in your shoes. So, thank you so much for everything you have done for this country.
I want to thank you for the service you did in Vietnam. I know how hard it must've been for you and I want you to get all the respect you deserve. It means a lot for you to risk your life for us. We as citizens don't give you enough appreciation for what you have done and I want to thank you so much for it. Happy Veterans Day!
Thank you for your service. I think Vietnam veterans are really overlooked because of what was happening at the time of the war and you deserve all of the recognition for fighting for our country.
Thank you for putting yourself at risk, and not leaving. Thank you for fighting alongside your brothers and sisters. Thank you for doing what others weren't willing to do. Thank you for putting up with how others treated you. Thank you for being there and here.
Thank you for putting your time and dedication into this country, even if you weren't welcomed home when you came back you deserve a welcome home now and desire the recognition and honor for serving.
I just want to say thank you for your sacrifice for the country. It must have been hard to leave your daily life and go overseas to fight a battle. We have to make sacrifices for the good of others and for the safety of our families. Everyone will have to make one sacrifice one day, yours happened to come sooner. These sacrifices weren't in vain, but for the safety of the country as a whole. Sometimes a thank you means more than it seems.
Thank you for your service in fighting for our country. It means a lot to know that you risked your life just for our country to be better each and every day.
To the brave person reading this, I want to just say thank you for your service for this great country. It must have been so hard knowing you might die going thousands of miles away into a land you know very little about. Thank you for everything you did for this great country, I intend one day to be at the level of respect that you deserve, there are no words that I can come up with that show just how much I am thankful for everything I have like freedom thanks to you.
Thank you for your service and your bravery to fight for our country. For all the hard work and constant battles out on the battlefield, but also for when you got back home to the US. It means a lot to me that you risked your life for us, and I deeply appreciate it. Thanks to your service I can have peace with my family and friends, and not have to worry about battles.
Thank you for your bravery and commitment to defending our country. Your service is appreciated and doesn't go unnoticed. We will never understand what you went through, but we honor and recognize your sacrifices.
In honor of all the veterans that served in Vietnam, thank you on behalf of my entire family, this country would not be the same if you did not do what you did.
Thank you for your service in Vietnam. I'm sorry for what you had to go through in and after the war, but hopefully today you are respected more because you deserve it as someone who went through hell and survived.
Although it most likely doesn't compare to the backlash when you first arrived home after deployment, there are still mixed feelings about providing service for our country today. Despite this, I'd like to thank you for the time you spent serving our nation no matter what people think about "the service" you did. It takes an unreal amount of bravery and sacrifice to do what you did and nothing can express the gratitude that I and so many others have for you.
Thank You. I know that it's short, but there isn't much else to say. I may never know the struggles and hardships you faced overseas or the tragedy you bear witness to, but I do know that you, among many other men and women, are the reason that I, along with many of my fellow classmates, are here today. Without your sacrifice, we may never have been able to stay truly free. So again, thank you, for making the ultimate sacrifice, for not only myself but the entire country.
Thank you for your service. We don't know what the world would be like today if veterans did not serve in the wars. My grandpa was a Vietnam veteran and he used to tell me bad stories about the war. It makes me feel so bad for the people that had to go through this. The videos helped me realize just how many people were lost in just one war. It's an insane amount and I'd hate to see anything happen like that again.
Even though I do not agree with the war, and our place in it I am very thankful to you. My great-grandfather was in the war, and I have other family members who served in the recent past so I understand what that does to you mentally. I can only imagine how strong you would have to be to go through something that traumatic. thank you for willingly giving up your soul to protect me and the people around me... If you have any survivor's guilt please understand it is not your fault. you did not choose for them to die and you to live just like most men didn't choose to be in the war, to begin with. I hope you found endless peace and happiness.. or even as much as you could find - it be a little or a lot. again... thank you.
I believe that it is a truly heroic thing to be sent off to war involuntarily and to return intact. The crimes committed surely stain your conscience, and yet that same government that sent you off to do its dirty work has not even begun to repay its debts to you. The naive think that you wanted war, that you jumped at the chance to go fight another person's war. The ones who understand the pain of war, the suffering it brings for both sides, know that it was involuntary and that you sacrificed much unwillingly.
Thank you for your service. I apologize that you were not able to feel a warm welcome on your arrival back home. I am truly ashamed of the fact that people would treat US soldiers that way. You were bravely fighting there while all these citizens were safe in their beds. I am happy that the Vietnam war soldiers finally received their thank you's and their respect. I am so thankful for every person that fought in that war, I will always deeply appreciate and remember the soldiers who fought in the Vietnam war.
Veterans Day is November 11th- In honor of Veterans Day, I wanted to share the 3 productions that I filmed and edited centering around the Mercer County Vete...
