The Veterans Club hosted an event on Nov. 9 in Iowa Hall to bring attention to the veterans on campus.
Ramona Taylor, veterans service coordinator, said there are 325 veterans on campus. She hopes to find ways to recognize all of them through a project that would display photographs of veterans in uniform.
The event came just ahead of Veterans Day on Nov. 11, when Iowa Hall was lit red, white and blue in honor of veterans and their service to the country.
“My goal eventually is to see if I can get all of our veterans to give me a photograph of themselves in uniform, and then I can start displaying them,” said Taylor.
Beyond special events, the Veterans Club and veterans’ lounge provide a place for servicemen and women to connect with others on campus. The club offers a safe space for veterans to share stories, feel welcome and find common ground.
Scott Hagues, vice president of the Veterans Club, wants students to recognize there are veterans among them and form a deeper understanding of their experiences.
“I think it’s good that veterans will have a chance to be on stage and speak, because the veterans are for other students. They could look at veterans kind of like living heroes,” Hagues said.
That opportunity to connect is especially important for younger veterans, who may not always be recognized by their peers as having military experience.
Haris Kraina, criminal justice major and Veterans Club member, said some veterans on campus are young and eager to share their stories.
“There’s a lot of new, younger vets like myself and a lot of my buddies that people look at like, ‘What? We didn’t really think you guys were vets or anything,’” said Kraina. “But maybe it’ll help the next generation of people joining the military to come talk to us about our experiences.”
Veterans Club members want to remind students that freedom isn’t free. Veterans like Hagues and Kraina have served or will continue to serve their country.
“I know it’s always cliche that they’re the ones that keep our freedom, but it’s a true statement. They’re why we’re here,” Hagues said.
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