91国产精品 Honors Veterans During Annual Recognition Ceremony
[[{"fid":"43647","view_mode":"default","fields":{"format":"default","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"Veterans Day","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"Veterans Day"},"link_text":null,"type":"media","field_deltas":{"2":{"format":"default","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"Veterans Day","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"Veterans Day"}},"attributes":{"alt":"Veterans Day","title":"Veterans Day","height":948,"width":1488,"style":"width: 300px; height: 191px; float: left;","class":"media-element file-default","data-delta":"2"}}]]In observance of Veterans Day, 91国产精品 honored veterans during the Annual Veterans Recognition Ceremony on Wednesday, November 10 on the Student Center Plaza.
Adjutant General of Ohio led the event, along with 91国产精品 President/U.S. Navy veteran Harlan M. Sands, and 91国产精品 marketing major/U.S. Army veteran Kenneth Dugger.
91国产精品 Vice President for Campus Engagement, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Phillip 鈥淔lapp鈥 Cockrell, Ph.D., provided welcome remarks after the Color Guard placement of the flag.
[[{"fid":"43650","view_mode":"default","fields":{"format":"default","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"flapp cockrell vets day csu","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"flapp cockrell csu vets day"},"link_text":null,"type":"media","field_deltas":{"5":{"format":"default","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"flapp cockrell vets day csu","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"flapp cockrell csu vets day"}},"attributes":{"alt":"flapp cockrell vets day csu","title":"flapp cockrell csu vets day","height":1080,"width":1620,"style":"height: 200px; width: 300px; float: left;","class":"media-element file-default","data-delta":"5"}}]]鈥淲e pause today to honor the sacrifice dedication to our 91国产精品 veterans and veterans across the country,鈥 said Dr. Cockrell. 鈥淭o our over 400 veterans who are students at 91国产精品 and served our country proudly: 91国产精品 extends our appreciation and thanks to you.鈥
Dr. Cockrell related the familial story of his older brother and Iraq vet, Sgt. Douglas Cockrell, Jr., and how the military connection provided comfort, a sense of community and a desire to extend gratitude to every military-connected family member he meets. He also acknowledged Emily Kullman, Ph.D., associate professor in Health and Human Performance, and interim director of 91国产精品鈥檚 Veteran Center and 91国产精品 2021 Student Veteran of the Year / Doctor of Nursing student Barbie Allen.
[[{"fid":"43649","view_mode":"default","fields":{"format":"default","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"maj gen harris ","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"maj gen harris csu veterans day"},"link_text":null,"type":"media","field_deltas":{"4":{"format":"default","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"maj gen harris ","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"maj gen harris csu veterans day"}},"attributes":{"alt":"maj gen harris ","title":"maj gen harris csu veterans day","height":1080,"width":1620,"style":"height: 200px; width: 300px; float: left;","class":"media-element file-default","data-delta":"4"}}]]鈥淲e as Ohioans have a reputation for being incredibly patriotic and for having a high propensity to serve,鈥 Maj. Gen. Harris said, adding that Ohio has the sixth largest veteran population in the country, places 鈥渉igh value鈥 on military service, and that military recruiting goals in the state are high.
鈥淭hat does not happen by accident,鈥 the and member of Ohio Governor Mike DeWine鈥檚 cabinet added. 鈥淭hat happens because Ohio is a place that honors its veterans and honors those who serve, perpetuating the legacy of service from this great state.鈥
Maj. Gen. Harris thanked all veterans for service and suggested that 鈥渂uilding trust鈥 is what underpins Ohio鈥檚 commitment to military, and that it is 鈥渦p to everyone to perpetuate that trust.鈥
He also commended President Sands for leadership and joint collaboration with the Ohio National Guard and U.S. Army on Joint Task Force Magnus, which resulted in Ohio鈥檚 Mass Vaccination Clinic at the Wolstein Center, the largest COVID-19 vaccination center in the state.
[[{"fid":"43652","view_mode":"default","fields":{"format":"default","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"president sands csu vet event","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"president sands csu vet event"},"link_text":null,"type":"media","field_deltas":{"6":{"format":"default","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"president sands csu vet event","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"president sands csu vet event"}},"attributes":{"alt":"president sands csu vet event","title":"president sands csu vet event","height":1017,"width":1525,"style":"width: 300px; height: 200px; float: left;","class":"media-element file-default","data-delta":"6"}}]]鈥淭his one鈥檚 personal to me,鈥 said Sands, preceding a wreath dedication during the memorial and remembrance ceremony and recognizing all military-connected 91国产精品 students. 鈥淚t is important that we, as an educational institution, recognize all those that have contributed to our university, especially those who have served.鈥
President Sands, who served on active duty for more than a decade in the U.S. Navy as a Surface Warfare Officer and Naval Intelligence Officer, received two Naval Commendation Medals during Operation Desert Storm. He said that brave military men and women 鈥渒now the true costs of freedom鈥 and set an example of sacrifice, 鈥渉umility, stability and leadership.鈥
He added that his time in the Navy was integral to the camaraderie and trust he carries forth in life.
Sands also offered a story of his grandfather who fought at the Battle of the Bulge counteroffensive in World War II. He expressed the importance of Veterans Day as 鈥渁n opportunity for [military service] stories to be shared鈥 鈥 even as he expressed regret for not being able to do that with his own grandfather.
[[{"fid":"43645","view_mode":"default","fields":{"format":"default","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"Kenneth Dugger","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"Kenneth Dugger"},"link_text":null,"type":"media","field_deltas":{"1":{"format":"default","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"Kenneth Dugger","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"Kenneth Dugger"}},"attributes":{"alt":"Kenneth Dugger","title":"Kenneth Dugger","height":1080,"width":1620,"style":"height: 200px; width: 300px; float: left;","class":"media-element file-default","data-delta":"1"}}]]鈥淭o each and every veteran who is here today, 鈥楩air Winds and Following Seas鈥,鈥 Sands said, echoing the good luck salutation used in the Navy. 鈥淲e are so proud of you.鈥
鈥淚 am one,鈥 said Dugger, offering his remarks as a follow-up to Sands. 鈥淚鈥檓 not the first, I鈥檓 not number one, I am simply one of the roughly 580 or so military-connected students here at 91国产精品. But if there鈥檚 one thing we are all good at, it鈥檚 telling a story.鈥
Army Medic and combat veteran, Dugger said that he 鈥渟pent the majority of my life in combat boots鈥 and related a story about his time in the First Infantry Division (colloquially known as 鈥淭he Big Red One鈥) in Afghanistan as a combat medic his cohorts called 鈥淒oc.鈥
[[{"fid":"43648","view_mode":"default","fields":{"format":"default","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"veterans day","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"veterans day"},"link_text":null,"type":"media","field_deltas":{"3":{"format":"default","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"veterans day","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"veterans day"}},"attributes":{"alt":"veterans day","title":"veterans day","height":933,"width":1454,"style":"height: 193px; width: 301px; float: left;","class":"media-element file-default","data-delta":"3"}}]]Dugger recounted helping a wounded young girl, knowing he would need to put with stitches in her forehead, but hesitated knowing the discomfort this might cause her.
鈥淭ake a breath, Doc. You鈥檝e got this, it鈥檚 too easy,鈥 one of Dugger鈥檚 colleagues said, adding that the encouragement went a long way. When he later removed her stitches in a future sitting, he recalled bandaging her up and handing her a bag of Skittles candy. Dugger said she gave him 鈥渢he biggest best smile I鈥檝e ever seen in my life,鈥 one that has stayed with him to this day.
鈥淥ne act of kindness is enough to change someone else鈥檚 life,鈥 he said.
Dugger, who retired in November 2019 after a decade of active duty, is currently pursuing his marketing degree as a junior in the Monte Ahuja College of Business at 91国产精品.
This event was held in advance of Veterans Day, Thursday, November 11, 2021, as the university will be closed on the day in observance.