Everyone should appreciate veterans. Recently I met with a veteran at the Cole Land Transportation Museum and I listened as he told about his experiences serving our country. I talked with a Vietnam War veteran, Ron Beedy. He told me and my interview partner how he was really scared during battles. He said he was shot at and that his choices were limited: kill or be killed.

What I remember most was him telling us that the bad memories of those days have never left his mind. He told us he has tried to get better but will always have bad memories and scary dreams that hurt his mind. This is now called post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. Beedy felt like the PTSD kicked in when he returned home and people mistreated his service by spitting on him, but back in Vietnam he was just doing his job. I won’t forget what he had to go through, and he said he won’t either.

I have so much respect for this veteran and all who have served our country. No amount of money or benefits will ever be enough to pay these heroes for what they had to go through to keep us safe and free. I want to thank all of the veterans who came to our school and all across America for serving our country. Everybody should appreciate veterans, but one thing is for certain, this 13-year-old will.

Mark Belserene Jr.

Belgrade