Earlier this year, cadets from the East Hall High School NJROTC unit conducted interviews with some twenty-five veterans. Our goal was to commemorate Veterans Day 2007 while honoring Hall County's many military veterans. We wanted to educate students about Veterans Day and to generate respect for, and appreciation of, veterans and the impact they have made in our lives.

We spoke with veterans of every era, from World War II through the current War On Terror. I hope their stories will impress upon students the significance of Veterans Day, the many sacrifices veterans have made throughout our country's history, and the sense of duty and patriotic pride shared by veterans.

Memorial Day and Veterans Day are often confused. Memorial Day is a day for remembering and honoring military personnel who died in the service of our country. While those who died are also remembered on Veterans Day, Veterans Day is primarily intended to thank living veterans for their service, to acknowledge that their contributions to our national security are appreciated, and to underscore the fact that all those who served - not only those who died - have sacrificed and done their duty.

Semper Fidelis,

Brad McCanna

Major, USMC (Retired)