NEWS
NOVEMBER 12, 2009
Veterans remembered this week
Army ROTC cadets stand at attention and salute in respect of the flag raising Veterans Day ceremony held yesterday morning at UCO.
Tiffany Brown
Skiff11 rile,
Red, white and blue flags flew half-
staff. On the sliver pole attached by a
white string, the flag wavered from the
Oklahoma winds at the University of
Central Oklahoma.
Instead of flying high, the American
flag was lowered to honor veterans. UCO
President W. Roger Webb took the time
to send a message to veterans on Veterans
Day.
"We appreciate and honor the service
of all the men and women who have
served in the different branches of the
U.S. military throughout the course of
American history," Webb said.
Many UCO students, faculty and staff
have served in the military.
"We remember those who have sac-
rificed so much, including the ultimate
sacrifice, to provide the necessary security
and support to assure American citizens
the freedom we enjoy," Webb said.
"We are mindful of those service men
and women who are currently serving
domestically and abroad, in particular
those affected by the recent tragedy at
Fort Hood, Texas," he said.
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to
all of the families affected by this tragic
event. We hope for the safe and expedient
return of all of our military personnel and
maintain the highest respect for those that
have chosen to serve our country on this
day of remembrance."
As many citizens across the nation
mourned the recent events that unfolded
at Fort Hood, many more paid tribute to
the Americans who have served and are
currently serving overseas.
Yet, the tradition of reverence began
nearly a century ago.
On Nov. 11, 1919, President Woodrow
Wilson greeted the world with these
words, "To us in America, the reflections
of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn
pride in the heroism of those who died in
the country's service and with gratitude
for the victory, both because of the thing
from which it has freed us and because of
the opportunity it has given America to
show her sympathy with peace and justice
in the councils of the nations."
While Armistice Day was established
to commemorate the day the Allied and
Axis powers agreed to a cease fire in 1918
nearly 90 years ago, Wilson laid the foun-
dation to honor military service members
who fought in World War I.
In the 1920s states began to observe
Armistice Day, making it a legal holiday.
On May 13, 1938, Congress passed
legislation designating Nov. it as a legal
federal holiday.
Although the government cannot force
states to observe federal holidays, many
states followed the example set by the
government and continued to observe
Armistice Day.
From 1941 to 1953, World War II and
the Vietnam War and the aftermath of
-
those wars created millions of service
members who became war veterans.
On June 1, 1938 President Dwight
Eisenhower signed legislation that
changed the named of Armistice Day to
Veterans Day.
With the recent wars in Iraq and
Afghanistan, the observance of Veterans
Day has retained much of its historical
significance.
Students, faculty and staff at UCO are
taking efforts to make sure the commit-
ment and dedication of U.S. soldiers are
remembered.
Long before UCO had paved parking
lots, when cars had to be towed on rainy
days due to the sand turning into mud and
when Broncho Lake was a mud hole where
students played soccer, Dr. Siegfried Heit
taught at UCO while remaining an active
duty military member, he said.
"Sometimes we forget what veterans
do for us," Heit said. "They need to be
honored."
Heit is a veteran of the Bosnia Kosovo
War, where U.S. troops were sent in the
late '8os and early '9os when the region
was caught in violent turmoil.
He said he received a gift from a veter-
ans group that he has cherished.
Army ROTC Color Guard raised the flag yesterday morning at 9:00 a.m.
in honor of Veterans Day. Speeches were given, followed by a prayer and
moment of silence. Flag-patterned ribbons were provided to attendees to
show support to veterans.
"On my wail I have a plaque from an
Iraq veterans group," Heit said.
"It reads if you can read this thank a
teacher; if you can read this in English
thank a vet."
Also, Heit wanted to share a quote that
was sent to him by Charles Stanphill, a
retired Master Sergeant from the U.S.
Army Reserve, who was one of his ser-
geants:
"A 'Veteran' -- whether active duty,
discharged, retired, or reserve -- is some-
one who, at one point in his life, wrote a
blank check made payable to 'The United
States of America,' for an amount of 'up
to, and including his life.' That is honor,
and there are way too many people in this
country today, who no longer understand
that fact." This quote was written by an
unknown person.
Since military members are currently
fighting in combat overseas, Heit stressed
the importance of remembering veterans
and active-duty military members.
Dr. Robert Kerr, a History and
Geography Professor, is one of the many
service members who is an Iraq veteran.
"Most people don't realize that you're
serving," Kerr said.
Being able to forget is a privilege given
Photo by Byron Koontz
PAGE 4
Photo by Byron Koontz
to American citizens by the military, he
said.
"You have the luxury of not remember-
ing," Kerr said. "It would be nice if we rec-
ognize Veterans Day more as a society."
He stated people's lack of knowledge of
Veterans Day as an example of how soci-
ety has forgotten about veterans.
"Nine times out of to people don't
know that Veterans Day is Nov. 11," Kerr
said.
During the time when there was not
a war, many American troops were sta-
tioned overseas in countries such as Egypt,
Japan and Africa, Kerr said.
United States troops have been sta-
tioned on every continent of the planet.
Soldiers are separated from their fami-
lies for long periods of time, Kerr said.
It is something they have volunteered
and chosen to, but it is also something
they are proud to do, Kerr said.
Veterans Day is about celebrating the
fact that there are people who put their
lives on the line everyday for this country,
he said.
To show appreciation for veterans,
some of the things the media can do is
allow citizens to tape shout-outs where
people can express their gratitude, Kerr
said.
He used the Super Bowl commercials
of soldiers sending shout-outs to families
as an example.
Something the UCO community can do
in the future to honor veterans on campus
is make an effort to make it more visible
on campus, Kerr said.
Signs can be posted on campus or
images and messages could be painted
on the window like the university does for
homecoming, he said.
Individuals can also take the initiative
to honor veterans.
Some organizations, such as the HUGS
Project, put together care packages and
ship them to troops overseas, he said.
That was the biggest thing for him
when I was in Iraq, he said.
It does a lot for troops when people
show that they remember them and they
care, he said.
"It doesn't have to be a lot," Kerr said.
Troops were excited to get something as
simple as beef jerky, he said.
Today, the university held a celebra-
tion of veterans at the flagpole just north
of Thatcher Hall at 9:00 a.m. to recognize
and thank U.S. service men and women.
For some, this Veterans Day may be
marred by the events that took place in
Fort Hood last week. For others, it has
become and will continue to be a day to
show respect to the sacrifices many mili-
tary women and men have made.
Vista Writer Tiffany Brown can be
reached at
tbrown@uco360.corn.