Veterans deserve our respect, appreciation

To the editor:

As I sat in Veterans Memorial Coliseum appreciating the servicemen and women that allowed me to be sitting there, I looked around and the coliseum wasn't even half full. I'm pretty sure almost everyone has or has had a person in their family who was or is a veteran. Many people had the day off work, but couldn't seem to attend an hour-long service respecting our veterans.

What's wrong with people? If it wasn't for these men and women we wouldn't have the liberties we do today. Why aren't teachers bringing their classes to this service so our youth can learn about World War I and World War II? Most youth if asked don't even know who the battles were with or what the outcome was. Even the weather was more important on the news broadcast than talking about Veterans Day. I agree severe weather needs to be addressed; however, I know for a fact that many men and women (including my father) served in unbearable conditions to fight for our freedom.

Eileen McDermott

President, AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary Post 6

Cedar Rapids