Honoring veterans is a civilian duty

Jessica Phillips

Editor-in-Chief —  

Sean Taylor accompanies his grandfather, Bennie Williams to the October 2014 ceremony and Honor Flight. (Photo by Jessica Phillips)

More than 1.4 million servicemen and women are active duty, and 1.1 million are serving in the National Guard and Reserve forces. According to defense.gov, “The mission of the Department of Defense is to provide the military forces needed to deter war and to protect the security of our country.”

Nearly 4,500 United States soldiers and military personnel have died doing just that since 2003 in Operation Iraqi Freedom, according to icasualties.org.

According to militaryfactory.com, almost 522,000 were killed in World War I and II combined. The total casualties from war is never a good number to hear. What is noble is that these men and women died in honor, fighting for their country. Fighting for something they believed in. Fighting to protect their home.

U.S. military members sacrificed their time and lives. Their families and friends sacrificed precious memories that could have been made and said goodbye to lives that could have been lived longer, all for a greater cause. Soldiers, veterans and their families are heroes.

Veterans Day is a time to remember and honor those who have fought for our country. RSC will honor veterans with the Celebrate Veterans Luncheon at 11 a.m. Nov. 11 in the Main Dining Room. On Nov. 18, the Veterans Small Business Conference will be held in the Professional Training Center; it is open to veterans and business owners.

RSC welcomes veterans and military personnel. The college was named a 2015 Military Friendly® School by Victory Media in September. Veteran Student Services exists to help veteran students succeed; the office is located in Student Services, Rooms 100S and 100T.

Veterans Day is not the only appropriate time to honor veterans. On Oct. 7, 82 veterans of WWII and the Korean War were recognized at the Oklahoma Honor Flights ceremony in the Performing Arts Theatre. The Honor Flights take veterans to Washington, D.C., for a day; this flight was taken on Oct. 8.

Navy veteran Edward Davis, who took the flight, said, “I think it’s great. … (I) appreciate what (the Honor Flights) did for WWII veterans and I’m glad they’re doing it for Korean veterans.”

To the veterans of WWI, WWII, the Korean War, Vietnam, Operation Iraqi Freedom and all other wars that have been fought, thank you for your service. May you be honored always. The respect of this country is forever yours.