Veterans honored with Recognition Luncheon by Vol State Community

By Miguel Detillier
Volunteer State Community College celebrated Veterans Day by hosting the Veterans Recognition Luncheon at the Randy and Lois Wood Campus Center on Nov. 10.
This event took place in the Mary Cole Nichols Dining Room B and lasted from 12:30 – 2 p.m.
The Veterans Recognition Luncheon started with Belinda Fowler, President of Vol State Veterans of America (VSVA), reciting The Pledge of Allegiance with the audience. Fowler also talked about what a veteran is and what it means to be one and why people choose to be veterans.
Next, Ken Hanson, Veterans Affairs Coordinator, asked the audience if any faculty, staff or students were veterans of the military by having them raise their hands, and asked the audience to raise their hands if any dependents have supported their veterans today.
Hanson talked about the history of Veterans Day by claiming that this holiday started originally as Armistice Day on Nov. 11, 1918 during the end of World War I.
Hanson also said that Armistice Day was declared as an official U.S. holiday a year later for many people to celebrate the veterans who fought in World War I, and even said that Armistice Day was renamed as Veterans Day from a bill passed by Congress in 1954 since the United States started having more veterans after World War II.
“Recently, I had the honor of a gentleman from the Netherlands who came to visit me, and he was telling me he couldn’t believe how much we honor our veterans in the United States,” said Hanson.
Hanson then shared the gentleman’s sentiment by thanking each of the military veterans in the audience and to those that are in the military for their service.
“We are all brothers and sisters in arms and we need to keep it that way,” said Hanson.
“I had someone telling me years ago, ‘you got your brothers and your sisters that you grew up with, but those that you grew up with in the military and that bond that you have what goes that are in the military is even stronger than the blood bond that you have,’” added Hanson.
Hanson said that Vol State is proud to support their veterans and military students who work hard towards their educational goals.
Hanson also said that the Veterans Center and the Office of Veterans Affairs are all there to help military students have a better education.
Finally, Barry Rice, President of the Tennessee State Council Vietnam Veterans of America closed the Veterans Recognition Luncheon by saying that this country is coming together to remember, honor and pay tribute to those who have served for the United States bravely.
“The veterans we honor today came from all walks of life, but they share the qualities of courage, pride, determination, selflessness, dedication and integrity,” said Rice.
Tabitha Sherrell, Coordinator of Student Activities, said that this event was a great way to support the veterans who came to this event.