Today is the 11th day of the 11th month, otherwise known as Veterans Day, and originally known as Armistice Day to mark the official end of the first world war. In 1954 this was changed by Congress and the law signed by President Eisenhower officially naming today as a day of remembrance dedicated to all veterans of all the wars this country has fought. 

To some, today’s date - 11/11/11 - seems to hold some other significance, but I am not interested in them. Today, for me, is about remembering those who gave their all in defense of our way of life. I am no fan of war, make no mistake, but it would be unconscionable, to me, to not give thanks to the ordinary men and women who gave all they had so that we might live our lives as we choose.

I am reminded of a moment in the movie Saving Private Ryan. I am sure you know the film. It has to be the greatest war movie ever made. Near the end, a dying Captain Miller says to the surviving character of James Ryan, simply, “earn this”. At the very end of the film, an aged Ryan, kneeling at the grave of Captain Miller in Normandy says “Every day I think about what you said to me that day on the bridge. And I've tried to live my life the best I could. I hope that was enough. I hope that at least in your eyes, I've earned what all of you have done for me.” This moment, along with others in this film never fails to move me to tears (of course, I am a soft touch and have been known to grow misty watching AT&T commercials). Personally, I think about this moment a lot, and especially today.

The men and women who gave their lives, along with all those who fought beside them, gave up so much simply so that we could live our lives as best we can according to the freedoms represented by this great nation. It is something to aspire to, to make sure that in our day to day lives we all “earn” their sacrifice.

One does not need to be a soldier for this. Merely, to do everything you can to do what you do as well as you can and somehow contribute to the overall good is, I think, enough. It is not a lot to ask.

Here at Mobile Ed, we consider the education of today’s youth, tomorrow’s leaders, to be of primary importance. Every day throughout the school year we rise, usually before dawn, and often in brutally awful weather, to make our way to schools across the country offering up our small contribution to the educational process by bringing joy and excitement to students engaged in that process. In the grand scheme of things, school shows and school assemblies may not be as important as curing cancer or creating a new computer, but it is what we do and we do it the best we know how every day. We are proud of what we do and we sincerely hope it is enough to “earn it”.

Our grateful thanks on this day of remembrance to all those who serve our country.

Geoff Beauchamp is the Regional Manager of Mobile Ed Productions where "Education Through Entertainment" has been the guiding principal since 1979. Mobile Ed Productions produces and markets quality educational school assembly programs in the fields of science, history, writing, astronomy, natural science, mathematics, character issues and a variety of other curriculum based areas. In addition, Mr. Beauchamp is a professional actor with 30 years of experience in film, television and on stage. He created and still performs occasionally in Mobile Ed's THE LIVING LINCOLN.