History, patriotism, courage—our nation's veterans teach us many lessons. On this Veterans Day, I urge schools to invite military veterans into the classroom to share their example and experiences. The service and sacrifice of these brave men and women have made all of our freedoms, including the freedom to receive a quality education, possible.

Congress' original 1926 Armistice Day proclamation called for "the people of the United States to observe the day in schools." Indeed, there are few better ways to honor our veterans and let them know how much they're appreciated. Many schoolchildren have loved ones serving in conflicts overseas. A veteran's perspective may help them understand and endure this challenging situation.

The U.S. Department of Education website provides access to many interesting and informative resources about veterans and military service from across the country. They can be found at http://www.ed.gov/free/. Educators should not hesitate to use them in lesson plans and exercises. All Americans have much to learn from those who did so much to keep us safe and free.

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