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November 19, 2025
Veterans Day Essays
I am Colby Garrison speaking to you live in Inverness, Florida. We are here today to discuss why I consider veterans to be heroes. You might wonder what a hero is. Well, as you probably know, some children’s books like Dog Man or Captain Underpants have heroes that save the world. Though these good guys are way different, at the same time, they are also similar. How are they similar? Let’s find out.
They are heroes! According to dictionary.com, a hero is, “a person noted for courageous acts or nobility of character”. A hero is someone who keeps going even when he or she is afraid. A hero is courageous and brave. If you are like me, I am tempted to give up the second it gets hard but it takes a lot of courage to keep going when life gets tough.
Heroes can be found in many forms: movie stars, book characters, friends, family, teachers, and veterans. A veteran is, “a person who has served in the military force, especially one who has fought in a war” according to dictionary.com. Veterans do some difficult and scary stuff like fighting bad guys, leaving their families and sometimes there might be bad outcomes. There are many different types of heroes but in my opinion, veterans are one of the best because they are brave and courageous. They keep us safe and protect the freedoms we enjoy every day! If we didn’t have heroes, I might explode! So, thank you soooooo much!
One of my favorite heroes is my cousin Marvin. He is a veteran and a talented artist. My Pawpaw says, “Marvin is a hero because he volunteered to serve his country in the Army. When they saw his talent for art he became an Army artist. HE created posters and illustrations for Army manuals.” Marvin teaches me about art and if you ask me, I’m a pretty good artist! Marvin is a hero because he is always helping other people. I remember when he was teaching me about art. If I didn’t have the right color, he made sure that I had the color I needed. He is also brave and can do a lot of stuff like ride big roller coasters that I am way too scared to go on. He also bravely served his country when he was younger and he is still serving others today!
Why are veterans heroes? Because veterans are people who served in the military which means they served their country. They sacrificed time, love, and sometimes their lives. That’s why veterans are heroes. Thank you, veterans, so much for being our heroes! And thank you for joining us on the Garrison broadcast!
My mom and dad are my heroes because they both were in the United States Marine Corps. They worked very hard to keep our country safe and to help people. When you are in the Marines you must have courage, strength and teamwork, and my parents show that all the time. I am very proud of them that they were brave enough to serve the USA.
Now my mom and dad are teachers. They take the things they learned in the Marines to help the students learn and do their best in school. They teach the kids about working hard, being respectful, and never giving up. They care about the kids and want everyone to do good, just like they care about helping people when they were Marines.
My mom and dad are my heroes because they are brave, kind, and always trying to help people. They protect, teach, and want kids to do good things. They make me feel safe, loved and proud. I hope I can be like them when I grow up. I want to be strong, caring, and always ready to help people.
My uncle was a Navy veteran, and my great-great grandfather was an Army veteran. My uncle sailed on big ships. He went all over the world. My great-great grandfather traveled the world also. They have kept our country safe and strong.
We honor those who are veterans because they are important.
We honor them by thanking them and celebrating them with a holiday.
After you are done serving, you are called a veteran. I want to say thank you to all the veterans. Thank you to Mrs. Peraza who is my teacher and a veteran.
Veterans are heroes.
Members of the Lecanto High Dementia Awareness Club pictured with Ms. Debbie Selsavage of Coping with Dementia after completing the workshop on the effect of dementia and receiving their brain bags on support materials in caring for someone with Dementia (Photo Courtesy: Amadeus Solis)
Club Vice President Amadeus Solis (author) and Co-President Rafe Nichols conversing with a resident of The Summit memory care unit (Photo Courtesy of Ms. Carmen Pagán Marti, club sponsor)
Intergenerational Contact with members of the Dementia Awareness Club and residents of The Summit’s memory care unit (Photo Courtesy: Anushya Padala, Co-President)
Lecanto High’s Dementia Awareness Club:
Bridging Gaps in Understanding of Dementia
Written by: Jan Amadeus Solis
“Dementia is an umbrella term that describes a collection of symptoms caused by disorders affecting the brain … impacting thinking, behavior, and the ability to perform everyday tasks,” explains dementia rights advocate Kate Swaffer. Yet despite its growing prevalence, many Americans continue to misunderstand the condition, often reducing it only to memory loss.
In the United States, an aging population has contributed to alarming projections: by 2050, more than 16 million Americans are expected to have Alzheimer’s disease, just one form of dementia. Still, general awareness remains limited, especially among younger generations.
At Lecanto High School, however, students in the Dementia Awareness Club are working to change that.
Students Are Learning Beyond the Stereotypes
The club, founded to educate teens on the realities of dementia, exposes its members to the wide-ranging symptoms of the disease, symptoms that extend far beyond memory loss to include difficulty speaking, changes in behavior, impaired peripheral vision, and more.
“High school students often have family members affected by this disease,” said co-president Anushya Padala, sister of club founder Ananya Padala. “It’s important to understand how dementia impacts people and how to interact with them with patience and compassion.”
Recently, club members completed a two-session workshop led by Ms. Debbie Selsavage of Coping with Dementia, an organization dedicated to training caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer’s and dementia.
“I am very proud to be a part of such a wonderful club,” Selsavage said. “It has been an honor to watch these students grow in their understanding and succeed in their visits with people living with dementia.”
Students Are Making Connections Through Service
The students have put their training into action by visiting residents at local assisted-living and memory-care facilities, including Cypress Cove Care Center and The Summit (formerly Grand Living). During a recent Saturday visit to The Summit, students talked with residents, played games, and shared snacks.
“Many residents expressed genuine happiness and appreciation,” said co-president Rafe Nichols. “For our students, it was eye-opening. The visit showed the powerful effects of compassion, patience, and companionship.”
Nichols described the experience as “mutually enriching,” explaining that while residents enjoyed a break from routine, students gained more profound insight into intergenerational relationships and the emotional realities of dementia.
Students Have Made It A Personal Mission
For many in the club, dementia is not an abstract issue, it is deeply personal. Nearly every member has known a loved one affected by the disease.
The article’s author, for example, lost a grandfather to Alzheimer’s disease shortly after his diagnosis. Nichols also watched Alzheimer’s disease “take the essence of who [his grandmother] was.” Padala’s grandfather struggled with dementia at a time when she did not yet understand the cause behind his behavior.
“I didn’t know why he was acting the way he was,” Padala recalled. “It was frustrating not being able to talk to him the same way. Learning about dementia has helped me develop patience and compassion.”
A Model for Compassionate Youth Leadership
As dementia continues to affect millions of families nationwide, understanding the condition and the individuals living with it becomes increasingly important. Lecanto High School’s Dementia Awareness Club is offering a model for what that understanding looks like: education, empathy, and engagement.
In a society where dementia is often misunderstood and stigmatized, the club’s efforts stand out as a rare but meaningful step forward. Through training, community involvement, and personal connection, these students are helping build a world where individuals with dementia are treated not with fear or frustration, but with care, dignity, and compassion.