Veterans Day is a very special occasion in Bixby Public Schools. It is a time when our students and staff honor our military veterans with various tributes, musical performances, patriotic artwork, letters, poems, speeches, and parades throughout the halls of our schools.
We cherish the opportunity to celebrate and honor the service and sacrifice of millions of men and women who have worn a uniform and taken the oath to serve this great country.
It is a moment for all Americans to reflect on the reality that the freedoms and rights we enjoy have been purchased with the sweat and blood of brave patriots who believed in a cause greater than themselves. Every sweet taste of freedom that we enjoy has been prepared for us by the men and women who have and will continue to live lives of duty, honor, courage, and service across the nation.
It is one of the great privileges of my life to have served as an artillery officer in the United States Marine Corps prior to becoming an educator. The Marines contributed tremendously to my growth as a young man, as a leader, and as a contributing member of society. In my ten years of military service, I learned the importance of teamwork and to appreciate the value each individual contributes to the success of an organization.
We have many BPS staff who also served our nation in uniform. We thank these employees not only for their military service but for their decision to continue serving their community after hanging up their military uniforms. They continue to make daily sacrifices and contributions on behalf of our students.
I also want to acknowledge our family members, neighbors and friends who have served as well. It has been wonderful to meet many of these vets at our school events over the past few days. We thank you for your service and for all you do to support our students and schools.
Our gratitude is also extended to all the men and women across our nation who are currently serving on our behalf, at home and abroad, on active duty and in the Reserves and National Guard. We wish for their well-being and safety until the day they return home to their families.
I hope you, like me, will take some time this Veterans Day to thank those who serve and those who have served. Because of them – and because of many of you – we live in peace, we live free.
Happy Veterans Day!
Supt Rob Miller
Major, USMC, 1983-1993