Commentary: Security Forces members take time to educate kids on Veterans Day Published Nov. 12, 2009 By Lt. Juan Lemus, chief of police services 482nd Fighter Wing Security Forces Squadron HOMESTEAD AIR RESERVE BASE, Fla. -- In honor of Veterans Day, Tech. Sgt. Rickie Cancel, Tech. Sgt. Latrice Webb, Staff Sgt. Moises Ostalaza and I were invited to visit Carol City Elementary School to speak about the meaning behind Veterans Day to their first graders whom are in English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) on Nov. 9. Carol City Elementary is an "A" school and the teachers and principal greeted us with open arms. It was important to speak to the children so they can see there is a whole world available to them. If they behave, get good grades and stay out of trouble then the number of opportunities they have is endless. I believe we got those points across and made an impact on their lives. At one point, a boy who recently arrived from Cuba began to cry because he couldn't understand us. However, two of us spoke Spanish and came to the rescue. Ostalaza knelt down beside the boy and spoke to him in his language. This made a world of difference and boy began to smile again. There was also a little girl who had been adopted recently and feeling sad, but by the time we left the class she was all smiles. Veterans Day holds an important significance in our nation's history and it is rewarding to help educate our youth on the meaning behind Veterans Day. Security Forces does more than give tickets, and most of the time when something has gone wrong, we are there to try to make things better. We stay true to our mission, which is to protect and serve.