President Dwight D. Eisenhower established Veterans Day in 1954 when he signed legislation changing the national holiday’s name from Armistice Day. Armistice Day began on Nov. 11, 1919, the first anniversary of the end of World War I. Since 1938, the holiday has been a national holiday.
There were more than 21.2 million U.S. veterans in 2012, according to the 2010- 2012 American Community Survey. Approximately 600 veterans are attending Sinclair this semester, and the Veteran Services office is preparing for their annual Veterans Day event to honor all veterans.
“I want to keep a tradition going, I want students to know on Veterans Day we are going to have an event,” said Becky Jones, veteran services coordinator.
The Veteran Services office will host “Veterans Day Remembrance” on Monday, Nov. 10 outside of Building 10 in the rolling hills plaza area from 11:45 a.m. until 1:15 p.m. Flags and t-shirts will be provided to those who attend. Attendees will make their way around campus wearing veteran shirts and holding flags to honor and commemorate veterans.
The event will begin with a guest speaker, and a banner will be present at the event to be signed by those in attendance to show their support for veterans. The banner will be placed and displayed at the Veteran Services office in the days following the event.
The Veteran Services office, located in Building 10, assist veterans, who attend Sinclair, with benefits available to them through the GI bill.
“It doesn’t matter what branch you’ve come from, the steps that they take to prepare you on how to do that stuff are never enough,” said Patrick Freeman. “When they come here they are starting from square one.”
Freeman, 30, is a satellite operator with the Army National Guard and also works in the Veteran Services office as a VA student education liaison.
Jones spoke about the office and what they do for students who are veterans.
“We assist with anything regarding that, getting started we will sit down with them and show them the paperwork they need to fill out to get started. How to use it, and the funding that’s included,” said Jones.
Jones has worked at Sinclair for the last five months in the Veteran Services office. She worked in a similar position at another school for over 13 years and explained that she began working with veterans after an opening in the department opened up and she took the position.
“I thought it would be fantastic, I thought what a better way for a civilian to help someone [veterans], than to help them achieve their academic goals,” said Jones. “I’ve become very, very passionate about it since then.”
She explained that not all veterans attending Sinclair identify with the office, and that only those taking advantage of benefits available to them do. Jones also welcomes all veterans to visit the office.
“I love them, I love it when they come in just to talk. I’m a civilian so I learn things just by them coming in and talking to us,” said Jones.
“I encourage all veterans to stop by whether they’re using a benefit or not. Definitely I want them to check in and feel like they have a spot to go.”
Matt Sells
Lowell Wagner