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EDITORIAL: Hearing veterans' stories

Baker City Herald - 5/15/2018

May 14--May has marked what we hope is a trend in the community -- scheduling special events to honor Baker County's military veterans.

There have been two such events this month, both in schools.

On May 2 the Harvest Christian Academy welcomed veterans to its campus, and on May 10Baker High School did the same. At both schools veterans were served lunch and given a chance to meet with students and, for those who were willing, to share some of their stories.

Of course we should as a society celebrate those who sacrificed to help protect us.

But it's also important to encourage veterans to meet with students, some of whom probably know about America's wars only through textbooks and films.

As anyone knows who has ever listened to a veteran talk about a combat experience, even the best-written book or most artfully directed movie seems lackluster compared with hearing an actual veteran tell a story.

The opportunity to invite veterans of World War II and the Korean War to such events is diminishing. The youngest veterans of those wars are in their 80s and 90s.

But there are many veterans of later conflicts living in the county, and their experiences constitute an invaluable, and irreplaceable, part of our history.

We're pleased that schools are taking advantage of this opportunity.

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(c)2018 the Baker City Herald (Baker City, Ore.)

Visit the Baker City Herald (Baker City, Ore.) at www.bakercityherald.com

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