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Celebrating veterans at LAHS

This week, the Griffin Gazette honors veterans on campus who have given “the ultimate sacrifice”
On Nov. 11, Veterans Day is celebrated to honor military veterans who served or are currently serving. (Photo courtesy of Canva)
On Nov. 11, Veterans Day is celebrated to honor military veterans who served or are currently serving. (Photo courtesy of Canva)

LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. — Veterans Day is celebrated every year on Nov. 11 and gives Americans the opportunity to celebrate the bravery and sacrifices soldiers have made. Veterans Day celebrates military members from all branches, dead or alive. It is a significant holiday to express our gratitude to the men and women who have selflessly served.

Veterans Day was originally called Armistice Day, the day World War One came to an end. The name was finally changed in 1954 to include all veterans, no matter what war they served in.

Veterans from all over the country have left their families to serve for a greater cause, so no matter if you have a family member who is a veteran or not, always thank veterans for their service.

LAHS counselors and Army veteran Mr. Riehm (left) posing for a photo after a college prep event.
Mr. Riehm, Los Alamitos High School counselor

Mr. Riehm served in the United States Army. He went to Fort Sam Houston, in San Antonio, Texas, to serve as a 91 foxtrot. While serving, he learned to be a combat medic and a psychiatric technician.

One of the most important things he learned is that no one in the world is the same, he said. People have different backgrounds, religions, creeds and races —  Mr. Riehm said the diversity he learned in the Army caused him to be a better person and more whole. Overall, he said he feels it was an excellent experience.

To Mr. Riehm, Veterans Day is a day to honor the sacrifices made at war.

“Our freedoms came with great cost and great loss. Remembering this gift is everything,” he said.

LAHS counselors and Army veteran Mr. Riehm (left) posing for a photo after a college prep event. (Bella Kim)
Mrs. Johnson is the student support secretary who is an active-duty Marine.
Mrs. Johnson, LAHS student support secretary

Mrs. Johnson is an active-duty Marine and a mother of a veteran. She has two sons who enlisted as seniors.

Coming from a viewpoint of being in the military, she understands the sacrifice you have to make.

Still, at times, it is hard to not always have her children around, she said. Families with veterans understand this, and she believes people should be more appreciative of what veterans families go through.

Veterans Day is very important to her.

“Veterans Day is honoring the sacrifice of all of our military for our country so we can enjoy our freedoms! They sacrifice their safety, time with family and friends — all so that they can help ensure our country’s safety and freedoms,” Mrs. Johnson said.

Mrs. Johnson is the student support secretary who is an active-duty Marine. (Brooklynn De Shazer)
Mr. Hong is at teacher at LAHS who served in the United States Navy.
Mr. Hong, LAHS math teacher

Mr. Hong served in the United States Navy. He joined the Navy in 2003 because he wanted to help other people.

He said his service helps him hold himself to high standards. Being in the military taught him how to care for others, and he used that to meet their needs as a teacher.

He believes Veterans Day is a day when we honor all the men and women who gave their time.

“It’s about honoring those who have gave the ultimate sacrifice,” Mr. Hong said.

Mr. Hong is at teacher at LAHS who served in the United States Navy. (Brooklynn De Shazer)
Mr. Gill is a campus security guard who served in the Marine Corps. (Photo courtesy of Unsplash)
Mr. Gill, LAHS security guard

Mr. Gill served in the Marine Corps after graduating in 2005. He was able to attend Vanguard for college because of the GI Bill, which covers the cost of college for people in the military.

He is one of only 5,217 living combat-wounded survivors from Iraq and Afghanistan. This profound experience has shaped his character with hopes of becoming an English or history teacher, he said.

Mr. Gill believes that people need to put on a smile and have good energy.

“It’s the best we had yesterday and even better yet to come. Veterans Day is about commemorating those few individuals that did sacrifice themselves for that greater purpose we call America,” Mr. Gill said.

Mr. Gill is a campus security guard who served in the Marine Corps. (Photo courtesy of Unsplash)
Make sure to thank a veteran for fighting for our country. (Photo courtesy of Chris Robert, Unsplash)

Thank you to all the veterans that have served to make our country a great place.

Make sure to thank a veteran for fighting for our country. (Photo courtesy of Chris Robert, Unsplash)
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