A Story Well Told

A week ago our school enjoyed and experienced another great day of “King High Remembers”. Those of you sophs and freshmen have yet to take part in this special event, but to catch you up, it’s an event in which over 200 veterans of WW2, Korea, Vietnam and the Persian Gulf wars come tell their stories to the juniors of King High. It’s very cool.

I’ve been thinking about the event lately, and I’ve come to realize that the stories these men tell aren’t just stories. These men are honored members of our society because of what they endured, what they sacrificed, what they saw, and of course, what they did. That’s why we honor them. Our veterans have more than stories to impart to the rest of us, they have the wisdom that comes from experience. We do well to listen to them.

Every year I tell my students in preparation for the day that it’s a minor miracle that some of these vets are even there. The memories are tough for many. But they come nonetheless and give of their experience.

We have veterans on our team too. None that have seen combat of course, but veterans that have done battles of a different kind and have the wisdom and stories to tell from those experiences. Your story is important. The things you’ve learned and grown from in past seasons of competition are important.

I want to challenge you veterans: Bekah, Carissa, Patrick, Tatiana, Stacy, Larissa, Ethan and Nick – what have you given back to the younger runners? Have you spent any time telling your stories? Imparting your wisdom? The things you’ve learned along the way?

I guarantee you that there are freshmen and sophomores on this team that are full of questions, minds full of wonder and confusion, eyes perhaps frozen in fear.

You have something to give back, just as those veterans of our past wars have given back to us.

Go for it. Start today.