People have celebrated Veterans Day every year since Nov. 11, 1954, and every year schools around the world have no school. To the dismay of many, Algonquin isn’t one of them. 

Veterans Day, also known as Armistice Day, is a national holiday celebrated every year on Nov. 11 to commemorate the brave men and women who have proudly fought and served our country in the armed forces. Algonquin is one of the only schools in the Worcester County district that is having students attend school on Veterans Day Observed. Many veterans were very disturbed about this news. 

Kenneth Warren is a former ranking A1CE4 (Airman first class) and wartime veteran. He served in the Vietnam era, National Guard and Air Force. He received medals for good conduct and marksmanship. While Warren does believe this country celebrates veterans well, he also believes that there are people who should be more aware and educated about the national holiday. 

“The minute you go into service, you put your life on the line and people should celebrate the sacrifice you’re making,” Warren said.

 Corporal Jimmy Campana served as a Marine in the Vietnam War as a combat veteran. He received the Purple Heart Medal and the self Vietnamese Cross Gallantry Medal with a bronze star. To him, Veterans Day is about remembering all the soldiers that didn’t come back. He feels it’s extremely important to honor veterans because if people don’t, then the young men and women who want to serve in the Armed Forces won’t want to put their lives on the line for no one to acknowledge their sacrifices. 

“I don’t feel it’s right, especially given that students get Juneteenth off but not Veterans Day,” Campana said. “It’s a shame that it’s not being honored.”

United States Marine and Master Gunnery Sergeant Ron Olsen was a combat veteran, deployed eight times over his 30 years of service and received 28 medals, one of them being the Humanitarian Service Medal. The medal is designed to honor soldiers of the armed forces of the United States who distinguished themselves by being hands-on in a significant military act or operation of a humanitarian nature, or have rendered a service to mankind. Olsen has expressed that it is unfortunate that countless men and women put their lives on the line every day for their country and in return they don’t always get the appreciation they deserve. He feels that Veterans Day is extremely important to retired and active duty soldiers to know that they have people honoring them and supporting them throughout the tough times. 

“I attend Veteran Memorials every year, and get choked up because I know there are people out there who have no concept of what it stands for or why it’s there, and they never will,” Olsen said. 

Warren, Campana and Olsen were all shocked to hear that Algonquin will not be participating in the annual no school to observe Veterans Day tradition. They feel it’s unfair to the students who know or who have lost family members and friends who served in the armed forces. 

“I think it’s ridiculous, because the reason there is a school is because there’s veterans,” Olsen said. 

This article was updated on Nov. 11, 2023.