While most students are not veterans themselves, some members of
campus Reserve Officer Training Corps programs are spending
Veterans Day helping those who have served their country.
Some members of the Arnold Air Society, a community service
organization in the Air Force ROTC, are volunteering at the
Veterans Affairs Hospital in Los Angeles on Wednesday.
Alan Millais, 20, is a member of the organization and said he is
excited about the prospect of listening to and learning from
veterans who have served before him. Millais and about 10 other
ROTC students are going to spend Wednesday with veterans at the
hospital, watching the Veteran’s Day parade.
“Talking with veterans is something that you don’t
get to do everyday. We’re not going to be able to talk to
them much longer about their experiences,” Millais said,
noting that most of the veterans at the hospital are likely World
War II veterans.
The two other branches of the armed forces, the Navy and Army
ROTC, said they didn’t have any special events planned for
the Veteran’s Day, but have acknowledged the day in other
ways.
Chief Jasper Houseal of the Navy ROTC said he is celebrating the
229th birthday of the United States Marine Corps on Wednesday with
a cake-cutting ceremony, which is open to the public. It will take
place in the ROTC spaces located in the Student Activities Center
at 7:30 p.m.
Major Michael Berry, vice-chair and executive officer of the
Army ROTC, said his organization saluted veterans at the UCLA
football game Saturday.
Members of the Army ROTC are also going to be performing color
guard ceremonies at various local organizations in celebration of
Veteran’s Day, Berry said.
He added that he hopes students use the day off from academics
to reflect on the sacrifices the men and women of the armed forces
have made for their country.
“I hope (the students) use that time to focus on the men
and women in uniform, past and present, who work diligently, and
the ones in the past who have made the ultimate sacrifice for the
freedoms (we are able to) enjoy today, so (students) understand
that freedom isn’t free,” Berry said.
“That’s why we have Veteran’s Day: to remember
(the members of our armed forces). It’s not for veterans to
remember veterans, it’s for all of us to remember them.
It’s real easy for people to get caught up in their everyday
lives and not remember,” he added.