Weekend 2

Instead of visiting the Veterans' Home this past weekend, I was presented the opportunity to appear at a couple of 11 September remembrance ceremonies and the dedication of the new Freedom Square located on the southern side of the armory with another Marine Option NROTC Midshipman. At the dedication, I was surprised by the turnout. several people attended to pay respect to the military and public service men who have fought, served, saved, and died as a result of the events of 11 September.

What surprised me the most was the sincerity of all attendees. Everyone knows that at a ceremony of remembrance, there's always those people that are there for the self obsessed reason of bragging rights; the kind of people that like to say they're nationalists or philanthropists because they attend a campaign dinner or a ceremony whenever it's convenient for them to do so. However that was not the case at this dedication. Here, Everyone was focused. Everyone was attentive. Everyone understood that even though this event happened ten years ago, its historical, cultural, and emotional significance will always be imprinted in our minds.

The more I though about how uncommon such a pure minded ceremony is, the thoughts became depressing. Of the hundreds of people I knew from back home and the some forty thousand plus students here, barely any even recognized what Sunday was. Even less paid some sort of respects.The thought that the majority of our population is so concerned with celebrities, parties, and what was said on twitter that even the thought of thinking outside of their own little social bubble - to concern themselves with anything that actually matters - would probably cause cardiac arrest. This is my problem with my generation.

Regardless of someone's perspective or opinion on the foreign events and interactions of the U.S., they need to realize that people died believing they were defending their nation and it's people. That is what matters.

Something Cool

So, this past Saturday, I volunteered a couple ours of my time in order to aide the elderly veterans of the Indiana Veterans Home. It was an awesome experience to lend a helping hand in some way, especially since it was the first time I have volunteered outside of an organization like the boy scouts. I wasn't alone in this adventure either. Maggie Young and I were partners in crime for this excursion.

We were tasked with the honorary duty of aiding the elderly in playing bingo. I had never played bingo and was surprised to see how much these people enjoyed it. Maybe everyone enjoys bingo, and I'm just that kid who sits in the corner and reads books instead of being social. I enjoyed the comments of the residents especially the woman who danced every time she closed a window over a number. She looked at the man o n her left and said "you can't cheat here, this is a military home. If you cheat they shoot you dead".

My favorite part of the service experience was meeting with some of the senior enlisted  U.S. Navy personnel. Particularly one woman, a Petty Officer First Class who had already received her selection to be promoted to Chief Petty Officer. She was originally from Ireland and spoke fluent Gaelic, as well as vividly depicting her experience at Marine Corps Martial Arts training. speaking with her and the other Chiefs present was the icing on the cake of this experience.