On November 10th a Veterans Day Assembly took place at Canton Public Schools.

At the assembly, the veterans were honored for their service. The elementary students sang patriotic songs for the veterans.

Before the assembly, the veterans were invited to a special lunch where they were served a variety of soups. The veterans visited, caught up, and told stories at the luncheon. Nineteen of our local veterans attended the luncheon.

Rob Estrada is a Marine who served in the Iraq War. He was motivated to join the war after watching the footage of the 9/11 attack. He wanted to help stop communism. Rob feels that most people understand why the soldiers are fighting in the war, but he does not think that people know we are still at war now. He believes that the veterans do receive the respect they deserve. He says his experience in the war gave him more confidence, showed him discipline, and taught him how to be independent.

Larry Denton is a Marine who served in the Vietnam War. Larry joined because everybody was going to Vietnam, and he felt like it was his duty to go, too. He feels that the difference he made was slowing down the communist movement. If he could go back and change anything, he would not change anything because “You cannot be changed.” Larry feels that some people do and some people do not know why our soldiers fight in the war. He believes that the veterans do receive the respect they deserve. His experience made him more cautious and confident.

Doug McDonald is a Marine who served in the Vietnam War. He wanted to find an occupation he was interested in, so he enlisted in the Marine Corps. Doug thinks the difference he made was inspiring younger men and women to join the service. Just like the other two veterans, Doug would not go back and change anything. He does not think that people understood why soldiers fought in the war until just a few years ago. He believes that veterans do receive the respect they deserve. Doug’s experience taught him values and what real life was about.

Thank you, Veterans for your service.