Sven Alskog
News Editor
To recognize the student veteran and military service members on campus, Idaho State University will hold Veteran and Military Appreciation Week beginning April 20.
Events and activities will be taking place each day during the week.
Highlighting the schedule of events will be the rededication of the ISU Veterans Memorial at Cadet Field on Thursday, April 23, from 2 to 5 p.m. and the Kappa Sigma Ride for the Troops starting on Friday, April 24, at 4 p.m.
The rededication will have a flag ceremony from the ISU ROTC Bengal Battalion and multiple guest speakers including a representative from the Wounded Warrior Project and ISU President Arthur Vailas, as well as ISU First Lady Laura Vailas.
This memorial began on Nov. 11, 2011, according to ISU records. The event took place at 11:11 a.m., a rare date and time phenomenon which occurs only once every 100 years.
According to a previous release from the university, the memorial is meant to, “preserve veterans’ history at ISU by consolidating all older memorials with the new one. The memorial will serve as a civic gathering point for all veterans in the region.”
“When they started the memorial they got a lot of it done, but the Wheatley’s contribution allowed them to finish the memorial and beautify it,” said Veteran Student Services Director Todd Johnson. “It allowed us to make it ADA accessible and to add lighting and flowers.”
Jack Wheatley has been a major contributor to ISU, allowing for multiple projects around campus to be possible including the signs at the entrances, the upgrades surrounding Reed Gym and many landscape projects around the university, among many others.
The support of Wheatley and others in the Pocatello community has helped make the accomplishments of the ISU Veteran Student Services Center possible, according to Johnson.
The Kappa Sigma Ride for the Troops on Friday, April 24 will feature members of the fraternity riding bicycles around the Quad from 4 p.m. Friday until 4 p.m. on Saturday. This is an effort to raise funding for the Fisher House Foundation which provides housing for military families during times of need, giving them what they call, “A home away from home.”
Monday will be the unveiling of the Idaho Field of Heroes in front of the Administration Building.
“With our appreciation week event activities we wanted to work with the Idaho Field of Heroes and thought it would be neat to do one on campus of military members who have been lost since 9/11 from Idaho. This will include 91 military folks,” said Johnson. “You can see what a sacrifice Idahoans have made for their country. With our small population we have nearly 100 people who have given their lives since 9/11.”
Earlier this year, ISU and Highland High School graduate Jason Landphair was killed during his fourth stint in Afghanistan.
Tuesday, April 21 is Veteran and Military Resources Awareness Day with activities from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. on the Quad. The National Guard and other resources such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion and health resources are scheduled to attend. Food will be provided including hot dogs, hamburgers and popcorn.
Wednesday, April 22 is PTSD and TBI, or Traumatic Brain Injury, Awareness Day from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. on the Lower Quad. A puppy kissing booth will also be available.
“Come hang out with puppies and drop a buck in the jar if you want,” said Johnson. “There will also be lots of resources to raise PTSD and TBI Awareness.”
Johnson says he knows of at least six former service members who have taken their own lives with connections to ISU over the last few years. He hopes to help reduce incidents like these in the future by promoting an anti-suicide effort. Further resources for individuals and their loved ones are available on the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention website by visiting afsp.org.
Veteran Military Appreciation Week is taking place to give ISU an opportunity to highlight its own contributions to the military.
“This is an opportunity to share with the university and the community what a rich history we have,” said Johnson.
