Veterans Day is a very serious business in Bowling Green with many elaborately prepared events leading up to and taking place during that day. In 2024, along with smaller ceremonies scattered around the city and the highly anticipated and publicized Veterans Day downtown parade, festivities included an essay contest for local 4th, 5th and 6th graders with the title “What can I do to help current and future soldiers?” James ended up being the 6th grade winner and got to participate in the downtown parade in a blue Corvette sports car. He also got to read his essay out loud at his school’s Veterans Day assembly and at the flag-raising ceremony in front of the city hall.

Small Things Can Make a Big Difference
By James DeBrot

I can support present and future soldiers by doing three things: helping to compose and create a music video, putting together a care package full of delicious local snacks from different shops, and writing an encouraging letter. I chose these three things because I think they are necessary to support soldiers who are far away from home and to uplift their morale.

For the music video, I can work with the students at the Bowling Green Rock Band Academy to compose an upbeat music video to help cheer up our soldiers. Upbeat music, I think, can sometimes really help boost people’s mood. I could also help put together a playlist made by the Bowling Green community to support the soldiers. I think this could help them if a certain song reminds them of a loved one, a friend or a good memory. Different people could add to the playlist each week, so there are always more songs for the soldiers to listen to. I believe music can have a powerful emotional effect on people, whether it be sad, upbeat, or relaxing. I think this effect could help our soldiers be happier people in times of distress or sadness.

Another idea I have to help support our troops is a care package full of snacks from local stores, such as ice cream from Chaney’s Dairy Barn in dry ice to keep it from melting, coffee from Providence coffee shop, chocolate from Mary Jane’s Chocolates, and cookies from Insomnia Cookies. These local products can help remind them of the goodness of life and of home. I could also include warm clothes, cozy socks and some other comfortable clothing items in the care packages. I believe that delicious food and warm clothing can help boost the troops’ morale. I also think that small things that are chosen thoughtfully can have a big impact on helping soldiers get through dark times like war.

My final idea is writing a heart-warming letter. A letter can help in many ways such as inspiring courage and confidence. Receiving a well-written letter could help a lot with increasing people’s strength and emotion. I also think that an encouraging letter can make our soldiers feel appreciated for their sacrifices.

In conclusion, music, delicious food and encouraging words can have a huge impact on soldiers, whether it is to inspire them, to remind them of home, or to simply make them appreciate the little things in life. All those things can make them feel loved and supported by other people in the community. Any of these three things could make their day or make them a happier and stronger person when they are deployed.

James read his essay out loud to the school assembly at the Veterans Day celebration where we were treated to excellent performances of the school choir. They sang the anthems of all the military branches (Navy, Marines, Army, Air Force and Coast Guard) in excellent spirit and harmony. James has a wonderful music teacher who is dedicated to hard work and excellence. Under her guidance with weekly rehearsals, James is part of a selected group of students who will represent his school to perform at the Kentucky Music Education Conference in Louisville in early February.

The local TV station came to one of the rehearsals of his music group and broadcasted about his music teacher’s ambition and the preparatory work being carried out.

Back to Veterans Day, here are James and his Corvette driver on the day of the parade:

James’ car and the others carrying the other two essay winners were almost at the front of the parade lineup as could be seen in the below video. The man in the Air Force combat uniform on the motorcycle is Bowling Green’s mayor Todd Alcott who was recently reelected.

After appearing in the parade, James was taken to the flag raising ceremony in front of the city hall so that he could read his essay out loud there. Bowling Green’s mayor Todd Alcott made the opening statement at this solemn ceremony participated by many city officials, the parade’s grand marshal as well as a few US’ senators and house representatives from both Kentucky and Bowling Green. After reading their essays, each winner received a certificate and a cash award of $200.

We were delighted to be able to talk to U.S. Congressman Brett Guthrie after the flag raising ceremony as he was courteous and personable. He told us his prediction of the election outcome in the House of Representatives and ended up being wrong by only one vote. The most moving tribute to the veterans was provided by a country singer duo who are sisters. They performed together the song they wrote about their own father who was a veteran. There was nothing special about the typically country melody of their song, but the lyrics about their beloved father and his emotional and moral struggles after returning home from combat moved me to tears.