When I was in elementary school, each year we would put on a Veteran’s Day program, complete with red, white and blue outfits and patriotic songs we had spent months memorizing. But the purple mountain majesties and twilight’s last gleaming didn’t mean much in second grade.

As each of us get older, we increase our knowledge of our country’s history and, with that, our love for it. We’ve grown up in an important time in American history. Sept. 11 will be marked forever in our memories as well as the wars since then. But we are not the only ones who have had their childhood marked by war. Our parents had Vietnam, grandparents had World War II, and great-grandparents had World War I. Each of us has dealt with U.S. conflict overseas in one way or another.

Last Sunday was Veteran’s Day, a time to celebrate our nation’s history and those who have protected it and its citizens. No matter what your political affiliation is, you should each take some time to think about the great sacrifices that have been made for our safety. Thousands of soldiers have been wounded or killed over the years to protect us and our right to freedom.

What we forget sometimes, though, is that these soldiers are right here beside us at the University. They are sitting next to us in class, walking across the Quad, one table over in the Ferg. They are normal people who have committed themselves to some extraordinary things.

The men and women who have bravely defended our country are just normal college students, and there are many others here too who are planning to join this service once they graduate. All too often we forget the existence of our veterans on campus. But from the Veterans Affairs Office to Campus Veterans Association and the ROTC, there are members of our armed forces here, trying to get a college education just like the rest of us.

Take a step back and thank them. Ask to listen to their stories and let them know how proud we are. Let’s show our veterans how much we appreciate them and what they do. In a time where many of us are divided on issues, respect for our armed forces should be a unifier. It shouldn’t matter whether or not you’re in favor of war. Supporting those who fight for us surpasses all political boundaries – when it comes to the end of the day, aren’t we all Americans?