High School Student Creates Children’s Book to Foster Gratitude for Veterans: Inspiring Stories and Educational Resources for Kids

Ema Mathis: Teaching the Importance of Thanking Veterans

Ema Mathis, a senior at Vanguard College Preparatory School in Waco, Texas, has written a children’s book to emphasize the importance of thanking veterans for their service. This project was inspired by her World War II history class, where her teacher, Brad Livingstone, regularly invited veterans to share their military experiences.

Inspiration from Veterans’ Stories

Listening to the veterans’ stories had a profound impact on Mathis. She reflected, "Listening to those stories just really makes you think about what you’re doing with your life." This experience motivated her to write the book.

Teacher’s Pride

Brad Livingstone expressed his pride in Mathis. "It didn’t surprise me," he said. "She’s an amazing student and an incredible person." Livingstone appreciated how the book reinforced the message he strives to convey in his class: the importance of thanking veterans.

The Book’s Message

The book encourages kids and parents to thank veterans. Livingstone noted, "Kids are gonna read that and go ‘I can do this.’ Parents are gonna read that to their kids and say ‘We should do this.’" Mathis hopes that everyone who reads the book will feel compelled to thank veterans whenever they meet them.

Personal Commitment

For Mathis, writing the book was not about seeking recognition. She said, "It’s not about fame or anything. I just want everybody to go do their part and thank as many veterans as possible." Her own response to veterans has become instinctive: "Every time I see a veteran, I’m chasing after them to go shake their hand and thank them for their service."

This children’s book is a heartfelt initiative to educate the next generation about the value of expressing gratitude to those who have served their country.