Today we join the rest of the nation in celebrating Veterans Day by pausing to thank and honor the brave men and women who have served and continue to serve our country as members of the military, both in times of war and in times of peace. Just as they have defended freedom and peace with commitment and courage, it is important that we take time to appreciate and remember their service with grateful hearts.

Across our district today, there have been special luncheons, assemblies, musical performances and other festivities to honor our veterans. Recently, I attended an event at Martin Luther King Jr. Academy where students worked with schools from across the district to collect 60 boxes of goods to send to our soldiers overseas.

For many members of our FCPS family, Veterans Day hits close to home. Some of our employees are veterans themselves. Others have loved ones who served or are still serving in our armed forces. Many have family members stationed around the world or facing daily danger in Iraq and Afghanistan.

In this special Veterans Day issue of Stu’s News, we wanted to note staff members who have personal connections to our armed services. With the help of supervisors and principals around the district, we have assembled as complete a list as we could. The sheer size of our school district made this a challenge; please accept our sincere apologies for any omissions. If you know of people we have missed, send an e-mail to Tammy Lane, or call the Communications Office at 381-4236 and we will update this edition of Stu’s News on the Web site.

• Employee list

This year’s Veterans Day remembrances are made more poignant by the tragic events of last week’s shooting rampage at Fort Hood in Texas. In his eulogy for the 13 fallen soldiers yesterday, President Obama spoke not just of the bravery of those laid to rest this week, but also in honor of those who will carry the mantle on to protect and serve Americans they will never meet. I leave you with some excerpts from the president’s speech:

“Their life’s work is our security, and the freedom that we too often take for granted. Every evening that the sun sets on a tranquil town; every dawn that a flag is unfurled; every moment that an American enjoys life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness – that is their legacy. … In an age of selfishness, they embody responsibility. In an era of division, they call upon us to come together. In a time of cynicism, they remind us of who we are as Americans. We are a nation that endures because of the courage of those who defend it.

… Long after they are laid to rest – when the fighting has finished, and our nation has endured; when today’s servicemen and women are veterans, and their children have grown – it will be said of this generation that they believed under the most trying of tests; that they persevered not just when it was easy, but when it was hard; and that they paid the price and bore the burden to secure this nation, and stood up for the values that live in the hearts of all free peoples.”