More than a day off

Reflecting on veterans’ service, sacrifice, and commitment

For many students, Veterans Day is simply a day off from school—alarm off, backpack in the corner, maybe a quick “thanks for your service” on Instagram notes, and then right back to bed. But for men and women who have served, the day holds profound significance, providing a moment to reflect on their dedication and contributions to the nation.

Steve Raymakers, a retired U.S. Army sergeant who served for more than a decade, sees Veterans Day as far more than a vacation. “To me, the day means that the sacrifice of time and commitment that we made to the Constitution is being observed and appreciated,” he said. For Raymakers, the holiday is an opportunity to step back and reflect not just on his own service, but on the contributions of all who have worn the uniform.

“Most of the day is spent with family and friends, and sometimes I reflect personally,” he said. Veterans Day provides Raymakers with a chance to honor both the collective effort of the military community and the personal journey each veteran undertakes.

Steve Raymakers, a retired U.S. Army sergeant, with his platoon during his early years of service (Photo Credit: Andres Raymakers (12)).

His son, Andres Raymakers (12), reflected a similar sentiment. Though still a student, Raymakers understands the weight of service through his father’s experiences and tries to honor it in meaningful ways. “I think it’s important to recognize what veterans have done for us, not just with words, but by helping out whenever we can,” he said.

“It’s about remembering the sacrifices and contributions of people who’ve served,” he said. He has noticed that students don’t really acknowledge Veterans Day the way earlier generations did. “I think it’s because we haven’t lived through major wars,” he said. “A lot of us haven’t even met a veteran.”

Not every student has a personal connection to the military. Unlike Raymakers, Jason Khaw (12) doesn’t have relatives in active service, and for him, Veterans Day has always been more of a break than a day of reflection. “I think most people view it as just a day off if they don’t have family members in active service or don’t know anyone in active service,” Khaw said. “It’s not that people don’t care, but if you haven’t met someone who’s served, it’s hard to feel the weight of the day.”

At school, Khaw’s experiences have also been limited. “We have that one FLEX session like once a year that has a Vietnam vet come and give a presentation. I found it pretty interesting when I went, but maybe stick one in during Veterans Day week instead of some random day in March?” For him, the holiday often passes without any substantial recognition in the classroom, leaving students to navigate the day mostly on their own.

Even at home, the day doesn’t carry the same emotional significance. “Sometimes we have a family gathering of some sort—either that or we just use it as a vacation day,” Khaw said. “I just don’t think it’s a holiday that brings out strong feelings in most people who don’t have a relation to a veteran.”

Even without personal or family ties to those who have served, Veterans Day remains a holiday worthy of respect. Mr. Raymakers, reflecting on how students and community members can meaningfully honor veterans, offers practical guidance.

“My advice is to go to the nearest cemetery and place flags next to headstones of veterans,” he said. “There’s one in Colma. We can put a flag out in support of veterans and donate time to organizations that help veterans,” he said.

For Mr. Raymakers, there are ways to recognize the personal sacrifices and daily challenges that come with service. “Another thing would be just possibly donating to military funds, like soup kitchens or shelters that help homeless servicemen,” he said. “You can help volunteer your time there or donate either money or food.”

He emphasized that simple actions can carry real weight. “Just having a genuine respect towards them is pretty much the only thing that military people want,” Mr. Raymakers said. “But if you want to go above and beyond, possibly give some of your time to recovery programs that deal with veterans or meetings of people with PTSD to help them there.”