Friday, the school is hosting a Veterans Day ceremony at 9 a.m. to remember and honor people who have and are serving the country. AFJROTC is going to raise the American and Texas flags for the ceremony. Major General Jay Bloom is going to speak along with other guest speakers. This event is open to all veterans and their families in the area.

There are many veterans in the hall and classrooms who have served the country. Classroom Aide Renalda Straughter was a private in the Army in her time of service. 

“It’s important to remember us because in my years as a para for Willis ISD I’ve seen students who take for granted their freedoms of the pledge of Allegiance, freedom of the practice of religion, their freedoms of their behavior,” Straughter said. “It’s not about the disrespect, it’s about the disdain that people have forgetting that hey, people have died so that you can have those rights.” 

Memories start flowing in on Veterans Day. Former soldiers get reminded of their past and want to reach out to some old pals. Science teacher Jason Manning was in the Marines for four years.

“I get in touch with some of my old friends,” Manning said. “We hang out online together because we’re literally all over the world. It’s a good time you know we check in on each other.”

Honoring retired military personnel is important. Many citizens do not understand the sacrifice soldiers make for freedom to exist. 

“It means sacrifice,” Principal Eric King said. “It’s something bigger than you. It means putting your personal interest aside and doing something for the greater good. It means honoring those people. It may not be a certain branch, color, sex, or location. It’s for everybody who has served our country.”

Senior Avery Estebanes knows the sacrifice a soldier makes. She has a dad that is a retired Marine and a brother serving in the Marines currently. She understands the value of helping America. 

“It’s kind of stressful at times not knowing his schedule or not having consistent times that I know I can be around him,” Estebanes said. “It’s rewarding to know that he’s serving our country. It’s pride, but it’s also scary.”

Military life is very different from civilian life. When vets re-enter society, it may be hard, but they persevere every day. 

“It’s difficult because you get trained in a very organized and orderly way to do things and then you get out into the world and lose that organization,” Manning said. “It’s been 30 years since I got out and it’s still stressful. Civilian life is more stressful than military life ever was.”