Honoring America’s Veterans

Charles Stish, staff writer

On Nov. 10, 2016,  the Fork Union Military Academy Color Guard marched down the hall to the North Hall Meeting Room with the Virginian, the American, and the Fork Union Military Academy flags in hand. Bagpipers, courtesy of Ablemarle Pipes and Drums, followed behind while playing a marching theme.

In the North Mall Meeting Room, veterans and patriots stood in honor of the flags and the fighting men and women who risked their lives for their country. This was the beginning ceremony of PVCC’s Veteran’s Day event, where our nation’s veterans were thanked for their service and sacrifice.

The event was held on Nov. 10 to not interfere with any events taking place on Veteran’s Day (Nov. 11). Despite this, the event had a decent turnout of veterans, their family members, and veteran supporters eager to participate in the celebration.

After the Color Guard, Covenant Church’s Fine Arts Pastor Javaris Wright sang the National Anthem with a flag folding ceremony and speeches by PVCC Alumni and American veterans afterwards.

The speakers included President of PVCC Dr. Frank Friedman, renowned PVCC student and former United States Navy Crewman Patrick Fritz, United States Navy Chief Petty Officer Shira Firth, and former PVCC student and former United States Marine Ben Shaw, who is also the northwest regional director of the Virginia Veteran and Family Support.

Each speaker passionately discussed the importance of men and women who serve in the military, how civilians can help soldiers become reacquainted with civilian life and continue to support them, and despite how our country seems to be torn by this past election year, should stay united as one to honor the sacrifice our veterans made to uphold our rights as citizens of the United States of America.

“I almost teared up,” said former Marine Lance Corporal Jimmy Bagley.

“I thought it was a very nice ceremony,” said former Army Private First Class Jacob Harned.

Since Nov. 10 is the United States Marine Corps birthday, the event had a cake-cutting ceremony where the youngest and oldest Marines were to cut the cake together, as according to USMC tradition.

In further celebration and recognition of America’s veterans, Assistant Professor of Theatre Arts Brad Stoller hosted a Veterans’ Story Theater on Nov. 19. in the Maxwell Theatre (Black Box) where veterans told stories and experiences that were immediately reenacted by skilled improv actors.

This form of storytelling was to help bring to life the experiences veterans had during their service so civilians could understand the sacrifices America’s veterans made.