In keeping with tradition yet elevating awareness regarding Veterans Day, Shepherd University scheduled a week packed with events in which the Shepherd University Student Veterans Organization, or SUVO, took part in each activity to honor veterans.
On Veterans Day, Nov. 11, President of the SUVO Chris Barnhart introduced special guest U.S. Marine Corps veteran Jeremy Boulware. Boulware talked about “What is a Veteran.”
He was attached to the Third Marines and went on to try out and was selected for Force Reconnaissance as a sniper. He served from 1995-2005, Barnhart said. “I know him personally; he’s a great guy. He’s an independent security contractor now and I think that job is perfect for him because he’s a bad-ass with a great heart,” Barnhart said. The talk concluded with a free meal at the lower level dining hall for all veterans.
Free bowling and billiards were offered for veterans and their families on Wednesday, Nov. 12.
Thursday, Nov. 13, from 11:50 a.m. to 12:50 p.m. at the four corners near Knutti, the offices of Counseling Services and Residence Life held the weekly 3D Thursday event and featured student veterans disseminating the green cards aimed at reducing sexual violence on campus.
Veterans and active military, some in full uniform, helped to distribute information about the 3Ds of bystander intervention to approximately 200 Shepherd students. 3D Thursday is a weekly event that encourages students to “stand up and don’t stand by” when they see potential trouble using the tactics direct, distract, or delegate.
“Shepherd’s veterans and military have stood up for American rights and freedoms through their military service, and having them participate in this campaign sent a powerful message to Shepherd students that they, too, should stand up.” Ashley Dorsey, graduate assistant for residence success, said.
Friday, Nov. 14, in the Rams Den, Mary Beth Meyers, the student affairs administrative assistant for veterans programming and international student services, set up to honor vets with hand cut-outs emblazoned with personal student messages in expression of thanks. The tracings were glued to a table-length sheet of paper and were placed to form a red, white, and blue flag.
“I’m from Nigeria and have been here a year. This is cool, and I’ve heard about the force in Afghanistan. My mom works in the VA,” sophomore Ayo Adegbamigbe, an economics/accounting double major, said while she cut her tracing from the paper.
The week culminated with the Military Football Game on Saturday, Nov. 15. The SUVO had a table inside the stadium apron for sales of hand-made Para-cord bracelets, T-shirts, hoodies and raffle tickets. The veterans were invited to walk on the field between the third and fourth quarters. The crowd cheered enthusiastically for the participants.
Veterans Day has a special origin. It began when fighting ceased and when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.
Then, in November 1919, President Wilson made Nov. 11 the first commemoration of Armistice Day with the following words: “To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations.”