Members of the KSU community gathered in the Student Center Thursday to celebrate and thank veterans in a ceremony featuring a keynote address from a Medal of Honor recipient.
The student-organized event was sponsored by the KSU Army ROTC Club, Semper Fi Society and Student Veterans Club. Veterans in attendance served in the Korean War, Vietnam War, Cold War, Operation Desert Storm and the War on Terror. Active duty veterans were also present.
Keynote speaker Col. Donald “Doc” Ballard encouraged the crowd of more than 200 to appreciate veterans and to reach out to educate “the 99 percent who have not served.” Ballard received the Medal of Honor for his bravery as a doctor when he risked his life to save injured Marines during the Vietnam War.
Ballard shared jokes, life lessons and a serious message urging veterans to share their stories in their daily lives, especially with young people. Veterans must “take the initiative to educate” those who haven’t served about patriotism, security and love of country, Ballard said.
“Students look up to you and respect you,” Ballard said. “They don’t understand you’re fitting back in. You’re a hero.”
Event organizers hope to bring greater understanding and awareness to KSU so that students, faculty and staff can better appreciate veterans in the community.
“Veterans Day is not just for veterans,” said Percy Ivey, KSU Army ROTC Club adviser and a Coast Guard veteran.
Ballard said his visit to KSU made him “excited to see an institution work so well with veterans.”
“We have a larger number of veterans on board than ever before,” KSU President Daniel Papp said. The veteran community is “vibrant,” and KSU is still “proud to be a military- friendly institution.” He said having Ballard at the ceremony was a “distinct honor.”
Papp thanked veterans for allowing institutions like KSU to “engage in a marketplace of ideas … that emerge to drive our country forward.” Veterans Day resonates with Papp, whose own son serves in the Air Force. “My own flag, which will be blessed today, will soon be at 40,000 feet with my son flying out of a Canadian Air Force base,” Papp said.
Previous Veterans Day events have been organized by faculty and the ROTC Club, but this is the first year three student organizations “jointly” planned and hosted the event, said Veterans Club adviser Cat Coulmas. The ROTC Club, Semper Fi Society and Student Veterans Organization met every Friday for three months to organize the event, Coulmas said.
Cadet Captain Michael Campbell said it’s important that the event was student- planned to make it a success. Campbell is part of KSU Army ROTC and served as the Master of Ceremony. Members of the ROTC color guard said they were “honored to take part” in the event.
“We couldn’t have asked for a better turnout,” said Frank Willis, director of the Veterans Resource Center. Willis said the student veterans who organized the events are connected with Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion and will continue relationships with those community organizations for veterans.
The event was “awesome,” said Matt McInturff, president of the Student Veterans Club. McInturff said he is grateful for the support and collaboration of all three student organizations.
McInturff led the Pledge of Allegiance in the ceremony, and Jayde Ryan Rivers sang the National Anthem. Retired Navy Chaplain Rabbi Albert Slomovitz offered the invocation, saying Veterans Day brings “a renewed awareness of unbelievable bravery.”
The Blessing of the Flags ceremony and benediction were performed by Wallace Wheeles, senior pastor at Kennesaw United Methodist Church and a Navy veteran. Sgt. M.L. “Del” Delamont of Buglers Across America played “Taps.” Delamont said the on- campus ceremony brings in the community to show the university’s appreciation.
“I’ve already volunteered for next year,” Delamont said.
Veterans serve because they recognize “the needs of the service are greater than the needs of the individual,” Ballard said. “All they want to hear is ‘thank you.’”