Warrior to citizen can inspire

To the editor:

Children of all ages need — and crave — mentors. Our kids need heroes, idols and role models. As parents, we try to be all of these things and more for our children, but we don’t do it alone. We rely on the proverbial village to help inspire, motivate, educate and support our kids.

As a teacher, I am keenly aware of the impact a positive role model can have in the life of a young person. And as I think about our returning veterans, including the hundreds of soldiers and airmen who served as part of the Alaska Army and Air National Guard’s deployments, I am struck by the abundance of leaders our children now have to look up to, to learn from and to be inspired by.

Our returning veterans know about commitment. They know how to be team players. They know about challenges and heartache and fear. And, they know about perseverance, skill-building, confidence and success.

I urge anyone in Mat-Su who works with young people to think about how you can involve a local veteran in your organization. Invite a veteran to teach your students a new skill. Ask a service member to talk to your youth sports organization about teamwork and discipline.

Or, simply provide a forum for a returning veteran to tell his or her story to young people in our community. I guarantee the young people in the room won’t be the only ones who are inspired by the stories they hear.

Shawn Arnold

teacher, Colony High School