Veterans Day: Honoring the 1%
Photo: Grace Thorburn
Story and Photos by Grace Thorburn
Veterans Day is a time to honor those, both living and deceased, who served with the United States Armed Forces. As solemn a day as it may be, Veterans Day remains a day that is essential to recognize those who have made sacrifices to serve those beyond themselves. The devotion and commitment of veterans are inspiring, and it’s vital for veterans to be honored for such dedication.
The University Memorial Center, located in the heart of the University of Colorado Boulder campus, serves as the state of Colorado’s official living memorial honoring the service of Colorado veterans. Veterans could be found gathered at the event with close family and friends. A cake-cutting ceremony took place at the end of the event featuring the youngest as well as the oldest veterans of the University of Colorado Boulder.
The ROTC program offered through the university was recognized d at the ceremony for giving thousands of students the chance to serve their country and receive significant benefits such as a college education.
Describing the history of Veterans Day, Justin Bueno, Student Veterans association president of the University of Colorado Boulder, said, “In 1938, this day was made a federal holiday…a tradition began of commemorating fallen military members by wearing a red poppy, a tradition kept to this day in all the commonwealth countries.” He added that “in 1954…an act of Congress expanded the holiday from a day to remember our fallen heroes to a day to honor all veterans.” Ever since then, Veterans Day has been a federal holiday reserved for the remembrance of fallen heroes as well as to honor all veterans who served or are currently serving.
Photo: Grace Thorburn
Commanding officer Colonel Robert Bodisch, who attended the ceremony, is celebrating his 31st year as a Marine. Bodisch knew he wanted to be an officer early on, and he now works as the commanding officer and as a professor of naval science at the ROTC program through the University of Colorado Boulder. The university produced “1,200 military officers that ended up being our interrogators and translators in WWII…this university is connected very deeply to the military, and there are some incredible military leaders that have come out of this university,” said Bodisch.
As Board Chair of the University Memorial Center Elise Mutz explained, “The University Memorial Center was opened in 1930 as the memorial student union of the University of Colorado. It was dedicated to CU students who served and died during WWI… Since the UMC opened in 1953, it has continued to honor our servicemen and servicewomen.”
Mutz emphasized the importance of events such as the Veterans Day ceremony that are held to recognize students serving the country, which is why, according to Mutz, Veteran’s Day must remain a way to honor those who either have served or who are a part of the 1% of Americans currently serving.