What is a Veteran?

This is one of those topics that I like to categorize in “I’m not quite sure how to explain that to a four year old and seven year old” We tried to explain Memorial Day to the kids and have them understand that it is not just a day off of school and a bounce house in our back yard. We went to the flag placement for the Veterans yesterday which helped some of the concepts we were trying to explain but according to the conversations below I’m not sure they get it yet……

Brady – When are we going to get to cemetery?
Brooke – Wow Brady that’s a big word for you.
Mom – Do you know what a cemetery is?
Brady – I know, it where graves are.
Brooke – And Dead people.
Brady – I don’t know any dead people
Mom – You’re lucky you don’t
Dad – I do.
Brooke – Who?
Dad – My Grandma and Grandpas
Mom – Yep
Brooke – No mom they are just birds now, remember Grandma Novacek’s mom and dad are. (Mom you have her convinced too!)




Mom - Well this cemetary is full of soldiers that fought for our freedom
Brooke - Why?
Dad - Do you know there are other places people live that they aren't allowed to do a lot of things. We are pretty lucky here that our leaders allow us to basically do what we want.
Brooke & Brady- just silence (not sure if they were thinking about it or just totally zoning us out)
Mom – Now when we get there let’s be respectful
Dad – Yes, the headstones are not rock climbing walls Brady, we don’t run and misbehave in the cemetery.
Brady – Why?
Mom – Because people are going there to visit their loved ones and it's respectful to not let them visit in peace on this special day and some people may be sad
Brooke - Like Mom – they freak her out.
Mom – why do you say that?
Brooke – Because I know it does. (which it does…)
Brooke – Hey mom turn up the radio this it Gaga, I mean “The Lady”
And that was our lesson on respect haha.


Anyway we did the best we could explaining soldiers, war, respect, and graves with the audience we had. They may not have understood everything but I still think it was important to try. Their were 5,000 flags put out and we couldn't’t believe how fast they all went up, there were so many volunteers that it was neat to see it come together so quickly.