Veterans, student or otherwise, are a critical part of the UI community, making it all the more important to honor Veterans Day this Monday.
According to the UI Veterans Assistance Office, there are 300 veteran students at the University of Idaho.
Although veterans make up a small percentage of students at UI, the issues facing young veterans today can be substantial. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, as many as 20 percent of combat veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars suffer Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. UI has recognized this and has created programs like Operation Education, a UI scholarship and assistance program for military veterans who have sustained permanent disabilities during military service.
These men and women bravely chose to fight for freedom, but their sacrifices extend beyond the battlefield. Besides the physical and mental problems veterans receive, many can face difficulties readjusting to civilian life.
To participate in Veterans Day one does not need to take part in a memorial, but simply keep the student veterans on your mind.
These students put their lives and relationships on hold for extended periods of time to serve our country. They have sacrificed many of their own freedoms to protect yours.
One day is not too much to thank the veterans at UI and to think of the freedoms that veterans’ sacrifices have allowed for.
Besides honoring veterans in thought, students can also attend a wreath laying service at 11:11 a.m. on Monday in front of the Memorial Gym or visit the World War I Memorial Statue south of the Administration Building.
— AE