Judge Memorial faculty, staff and students honored our veterans and their families for their service to our country with a week-long series of observances.

Morning announcements featured a prayer or reflection, and afternoon announcements featured a quote or reflection relating to the men and women who serve in our armed forces.

In religion classes on Monday and Tuesday, students had the opportunity to write a letter to a veteran. These letters were delivered to the Salt Lake City VA Hospital on Friday, Veterans Day, by members of the Student Council.

Please see below some excerpts from those letters:

• My freedom, our freedom, American freedom comes with a price. Actually, our freedom comes with a debt, a debt to you and our veterans for service that can never be truly repaid.

• We thank you for the kind of courage and bravery that only you and other veterans could give. Thank you with my heart and soul.

• I am thankful to have veterans like you that are willing to go the extra mile and risk their lives so that I may and future generations may life in a safe, free, environment.

• I am grateful for all the freedoms I enjoy as an American and I thank you for protecting me and those freedoms.

• May peace and happiness find you and your loved ones, and safety come into your home.

• Superman, Batman, and Spiderman are imaginary heroes of our time. The true heroes are people like you, who wear combat boots and travel away from their families to fight for their country.

• The kids at my school are so lucky to be safe, thanks to heroes like you.

• Thank you for serving our country and risking your life for us. I really appreciate that you care so much about us to sacrifice everything.

• Thank you for serving our country. We appreciate the sacrifices you have made and the freedom we have.

• Thank you for fighting for our country. It takes so much character and bravery to do what you are doing. Everyone looks up to you; you are definitely a hero.

• Thank you for fighting for our freedom.

• Your service is priceless; it is the ultimate sacrifice for people you will never meet. From the bottom of my heart I respect what you do. You are my hero. God Bless You.

• I don’t know you, but I could not be more thankful for what you did for me. You fought for me, my freedom, my house, and my family. Though I don’t know your name, or how you look, I love you and I thank you.

• Thank you for fighting for us. Thank you for protecting us. We owe you more than we can repay. We are all red, white, and blue and proud of it.

• I thank God every day that I am fortunate enough to live in this country. I am indescribably grateful for your service, and for you.

• It is because of your willingness to sacrifice for our rights that we can live as citizens of this great country. Thank you, and God Bless You All.

• You have protected countless innocent lives through your service. You have protected our houses, our freedoms, and our lives. From all of us at Judge, in Salt Lake, and in America, may God Bless You always.

• Remember that God loves you, we are praying for you, and we thank you.

• Many people all over the world may not know yur name, but God has seen you and he is with you.

• Thank you for helping our country be the great place it is today. Stay strong; you are in my prayers.

• You are a true idol and hero for all you have done for this country. You sacrificed your life for the weel being and safety of this country’s people. I can’t even begin to express my gratitude and my heart goes out to you. I hope the love and peace of the world finds you.

• Thank you for your sacrifice in the name of freedom, and for your courage to stand up for freedom.

• Your courage, bravery, strength is what allows us to take up every morning and see the sun, and what gives us freedom. Remember we all are family, every person standing, sitting, swimming, running, is your family. God bless you, God bless American, and God bless the love you give to your country.

• Freedom is the ability to speak freely, practice religion freely. Thank you for fighting for my freedom and safety. Your actions and the selflessness of your fellow soldiers, and your families, have allowed me to live my life.

• I will always keep you in my prayers and in my heart. May God bless you always.

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Dear Heavenly Father,

In every age, You call certain persons to defend the human family from oppression, tyranny, and evil. Since our founding as a nation "conceived in liberty," countless American men and women have stepped forward to defend our country and many others from aggressors, and to liberate those held captive.

This Veterans Day, as always, we revere all our veterans: those who rest in honored glory, those who still suffer from the wounds of war, and those who, with us, enjoy the blessing of living in the land of the free and the home of the brave.

O God, thank You for the selfless sacrifice of these veterans and of their families. Help us to remember them, to pray for them, and to care for them. Please bring all our departed veterans into Your Kingdom, and console their families with Your unfailing love. Please heal our wounded veterans through the power of Your Holy Spirit, and give to all our veterans the satisfaction of having served You even as they have served us.

Thank You for Your gifts of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. May we fight to keep these rights available to all. In Jesus' name we pray.

Amen.

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Related Links:

• Veterans Day 2011: Excerpts from 'Letters to our Veterans'
• Veterans Day 2011: Judge Students honor Veterans with 2011 observances