Jaclyn Figg
Staff Writer
November 11, proclaimed as Armistice Day in 1919 to honor the end of World War I, became a legal holiday in 1938 to celebrate “the war to end all wars.”
After World War II, and the largest mobilization of troops in history, the name was changed to Veterans Day in 1954.
“On average, we have approximately 400 veterans on some form of VA Education Benefits, with approximately 700 veterans at the university according to institutional research,” said Todd Johnson, director of the Veteran Student Services Center.
As the veteran community continues to increase at ISU, the Veterans Sanctuary, known officially as the Veterans Student Services Center, aims to provide a smooth transition for all veterans and active service members to ISU.
Austen Kemper, a dietetics major and Marine formerly stationed with the Second Intelligence Battalion in Camp Lejeune North Carolina said he doesn’t think many other schools have something like ISU and the Veteran Sanctuary and he pretty much lives there at this point.
“I’ve got my own little space,” Kemper said.
ISU received the reward of recognition as one of the top 25 military friendly public colleges and universities in the United States.
Daniel Potts, a health education major and former Marine stationed at Camp Pendleton, did two back-to-back tours in Iraq. He deals with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Potts doesn’t like being around crowds, or having people come up behind him and can have night terrors.
“Without a shadow of a doubt there would be no way I would be graduating if I hadn’t been able to utilize the services at Veteran Student Services Center,” said Potts. “It’s an inviting place for veterans; there are other veterans there, it’s like its own little military.”
Many off-campus events will occur on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, such as honorary service events at the Veterans Affairs Veterans Home and Bannock County Memorial Building. Many restaurants around town offer some sort of benefit for veterans, and Lava Hot Springs is providing free entrance for veterans the entire day.
Cake is being served in the Pond Student Union Building and College of Technology Nov. 11 for veterans and anyone who would like to join.
From 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Nov. 11 at the Catholic Church on campus, the Veterans Club will be handing out pies and cake for veterans.
Cory Cox, a dietetics major, spent 13 months in Korea where he suffered a traumatic brain injury that caused his medical retirement from the army.
He is the president of the Student Veterans Club, manager of Benny’s Pantry, father, husband and assistant catering chef at Chartwells.
Cox will lead the Veterans Club in hosting “Operation Diaper Drop” in April, supplying Benny’s Pantry with baby food, diapers and formula for parents on campus who are in need.
Cox believes veterans need a good support group like at the Veterans Sanctuary, and they need to stay busy.
“A lot of veterans get out of service and don’t know what to do,” he said. “The average is 22 American veterans kill themselves a day, it’s more than all wars combined. We lose more soldiers when they get out of the military.”
Historically, due to societal unrest, Vietnam veterans were unwelcomed when returning from war, some even spit on. In the modern age, most vets are welcomed home with open arms.
“I feel really sad first of all for the Vietnam guys that had to go through that,” Potts said. “They’d been through different kinds of hell that a lot of people will never understand. I think society shifted a little bit and we understand we’re not making these calls or shots, we’re following orders.”
When asked how he feels about Veterans Day Potts said, “I identify with it as a veteran but it’s really a time to reflect on the giants that went before me, these great men and women that did great things that really shaped our history.”
Perhaps this Veterans Day, ISU will reflect on those who sacrificed a part of their body or the entirety of their being in order to serve our country.
“[Veterans] are natural born leaders, with tremendous experience all over the world, all kinds of different cultures,” said Johnson. “They know what it means to work in a team and they know what it means to overcome obstacles.”
