By Phoebe Mendelson ’17

On the 11th day of the 11th month, Veteran’s Day is celebrated. Originally known as Armistice Day, which was to celebrate the end of World War 1, is now celebrated annually in commemoration of the veteran’s of our country.

Within the Staples High School community there are many connections to veterans. One of the veteran’s that many are familiar with is assistant principal, Richard Franzis, who is a veteran of the Iraq war.

When asked about the recognition he has personally received, he recalls,“When I came home from Iraq, I got off the plane and was met with a welcoming but embarrassing applause. The applause was greatly appreciated, but at least for me not really necessary, because it was my privilege to be able to serve in that uniform for as long as I did,” Franzis said.

Over the past few years, some female veterans have felt as though they do not always receive the recognition they deserve. This year organizations have shown their appreciation to all veterans, rather than just the men serving.

When veteran, Richard Franzis was asked about women in the military he immediately thought back to his experiences working with women, while serving.

       “When I was in Iraq, we had some women doing the same exact jobs as males and they did it with equal, if not more precision than males. Recognition will continue to grow more and more, ultimately it’s an evolutionary process,” Franzis. Said

Staples High School has always viewed Veteran’s Day as an important holiday, and always aims to inform its students. Social studies teacher, Eric Mongirdas, feels as though the Staples community truly values our veterans.

        “All of Staples has a great deal of respect towards veterans. The students and staff seem to really understand and appreciate the significance that veterans have on our society,” Mongirdas stated.

Veteran’s Day is a holiday for Americans to pay homage to the selfless veterans of our nation, that may not be recognized on a daily basis. Staples High School makes sure to inform students, and ensure that they understand the sacrifice that these soldiers make to ensure the safety of our country.

Photo used under the Creative Commons license