Messner, Schaller reflect on lessons learned from service to country

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, November 11, 2024, West held a moment of silence on Veterans Day to honor armed service members. Seven months before the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, which would officially end World War I, an armistice was agreed upon between Allied nations and Germany. This armistice went into effect at 11:00 a.m. Central European Time (CET), November 11, 1918. Recognized by a Congressional resolution in November of 1926, the date of the historic agreement to end WWI received an official name, Armistice Day. After becoming a federal holiday in 1938, it wasn’t until 1954 that a Congressional act renamed the day, removing “Armistice” in favor of  “Veterans Day” as it is known today. 

Although both Veterans Day and Memorial Day honor service members, it’s important to note their differences. Veterans Day honors all those who are currently serving or have previously served in the nation’s armed services while Memorial Day, observed on the last Monday in May, honors those service members who gave the ultimate sacrifice, losing their life in service to the United States. 

Having enlisted in the Army National Guard on September 9, 2001 and serving for 10 years with a deployment to Iraq in 2005, social studies teacher and veteran Andrew Schaller appreciates the importance of honoring all who have served in the U.S. Armed Services. 

“I believe recognizing those who served is a way for our society and communities to remember why we have the freedoms our Constitution provides,” he said. 

Having served as a Logistics Officer in the Marine Corps for over six years, math teacher and veteran Ami Messner holds a similar sentiment.

“There’s a lot of sacrifice that most veterans have made whether it’s physical sacrifices or even being away from their families,” she said. “I think it’s important to recognize their commitment to protecting our nation’s freedoms, putting the needs of others before their own.”

Schaller understands the impact that selfless service in the military can have not only on service members, but their families and communities.

“Most veterans do not seek out recognition for their service,” he said. “Veterans Day is a great opportunity to thank those who gave up a portion of their life to serve their country and community. This is also a great time to thank the families of veterans for giving up their family member to serve. When a service member is deployed, their family has to pick up and fill the void of that service member.”

For Schaller, service was motivated by a variety of factors.

“I joined the service to be a part of something larger than myself,” he said. “I have always believed in the importance of giving back to the community and country.”

Even though he is no longer deployed, Schaller still looks for ways he can enhance his community and carries the integral lessons he learned with him every day. 

“As a veteran, I look at how I can continue to serve my community and give back,” he said. “When you serve, you are part of a community of others that hold the same values of selfless-service to something beyond yourself, integrity in what you do and decisions you make, loyalty to your brothers and sisters in arms, and commitment to fulfilling your duty and mission. These are ingrained in who we are as veterans.”

Similarly, Messner felt a sense of purpose to join the military in order to honor the sacrifices of all those who came before her.

“I joined the Marine Corps because I wanted to serve my country and because I knew that there were so many people that came before me that had sacrificed and given their lives for our freedoms and I wanted to feel a part of that and uphold the opportunities we have in our country,” she said.

For Schaller, military service changed his perspective and continues to impact the way he lives his everyday life. 

“Overcoming very difficult situations provides you the ability to better understand the impact of daily life events,” he said. “Post-service, I do not let the little things bother me. It is often easy to always see the negative in life, but my service has definitely brought out the ability to see the other side and the impact we have on a daily basis.”

Messner is grateful for the opportunities her military service provided her as well as the qualities that have stuck with her post-service.

“The education they paid for me to receive made a huge impact on my life because it helped me to become a teacher,” she said. “As far as everyday life goes, the discipline of following orders and paying attention to details are some of the most important qualities that I learned through the military.” 

Her service brought her a new sense of gratitude.

“I also think there’s a lot of things that people take for granted in their daily lives and being in the military teaches you to appreciate even the simple things more,” she said.

Although his military service has ended, Schaller is committed to continuing to serve in the community and honor others who have served.

“The most rewarding aspect of serving is having the value of selfless-service ingrained in you,” he said. “I have continued my service by recognizing our veterans at Oshkosh West through the Oshkosh High/West Veterans Honor Hall that students walk past every day. Each day, students walk past the names of over 5,800 veterans who once walked the halls of Oshkosh High and Oshkosh West, many of whom gave their lives for our freedoms. This is my way to continue to serve those who served and make sure their names are not forgotten.”

Messner emphasizes the importance of getting to know those who are veterans and allowing them to share their stories. 

“I encourage people to reach out; there are a lot of veterans who struggle with their mental health coming back from deployments and post-service, and some have experienced very traumatic things, so it’s important to support veterans and provide them the opportunity to tell their story,” she said.

Messner knows the paramount importance of being well informed on the history of veterans.

“It’s vital to open up conversations about both the positive and negative impacts of military service in order to be able to support those service members who need it,” she said. “I also think it’s important to get to know who veterans are in your community because especially as veterans get older, they have a lot of stories to share and many are willing to share with anyone who’s willing to listen.”

by Ciera Striley

Published December 2nd, 2024

Oshkosh West Index Volume 121 Issue III