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Photos By: Dominique McCraney
Lisette Riley
Staff Writer
Jackson State University student veterans and military personnel from all walks of life gathered at JSU’s Veterans Day Recognition Program held in the Student Center Ballrooms at 11:30 a.m.
The JSU Veterans’ Center, College of Public Service and Southern Institute for Mental Health Advocacy, Research and Training (SMHART) Institute School collaborated to honor veterans for their service and commitment to the country.
The event included a presentation of colors by Jim Hill High School’s ROTC, the National Anthem sung by doctoral student Jonathan Winters, an invocation by Elder Gary Adams of Zion Chapel AME Church and welcoming statements by Ricardo Brown, Dean of the College of Public Service.
Olga Osby, Interim Director of the SMHART Institute and social work professor, stated that college is about service and veterans embody what service is all about.
“The idea came from teaching and working with social work student veterans. I took notice of the uniqueness they brought to the social work program and College of Public Service,” said Osby.
President Woodrow Wilson initially proclaimed Veterans’ Day in November 1919 as Armistice Day at the eleventh hour, on the eleventh day of November in 1918, when allied nations and Germany signed a truce ending the hostilities during World War I.
A few years later in 1938, Congress passed legislation approving November 11th as a federal holiday to honor all those who participated in the World War I. On June 1, 1954, November 11th became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.
Dr. James Renick, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs at JSU, commended the College of Public Service for honoring and celebrating veterans.
Renick, who thanked veterans for their service said, “When it comes to the rights and privileges of this country compared to other countries, the United States is second to none.”
According to the Institute of Medicine in 2013, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have been the longest sustained U.S. military operations since the Vietnam era, sending more than 2.2 million troops into battle, and resulting in more than 6,600 deaths and 48,000 injuries.
In response to veterans returning with lingering problems, Congress required the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to study the physical and mental health of veterans and other readjustment needs.
Tim Neyland, a doctoral student and the Community Service Mental Health Supervisor of Social Services and Education Coordinator at the G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery Veteran Affairs (VA) Hospital, “The VA has recognized their mistakes and have implemented programs and benefits to aid and assist veterans in their reintegration into society.”
The featured speaker, Marshand Crisler, a retired major in the US Air Force & Ph.D. candidate in the Urban and Regional Planning program, served 21 years as a soldier, marine and airman, 17 years as a Hinds County Deputy Sheriff, two (4 year) terms as a Jackson City Councilman and more than 10 years as an adjunct professor at both JSU and Belhaven University.
“Veterans Day is a special day, one set aside to remind us and to think about the sacrifices of our veterans; men and women who valiantly and selflessly devoted giving themselves towards something greater than themselves,” said Crisler.
Shonda Lawrence, interim Program Director of the Bachelor of Social Work program, recognized and presented each veteran with a certificate for their outstanding dedication to the U.S. of America and the commitment of continued selfless service to individuals, families, and communities in the state of Mississippi.
Veteran LeMarcus Johnson, a graduate student majoring in social work major from Cleveland, Miss. said, “I feel that JSU’s Veterans recognition program captivated the idea of regardless of a veteran’s background or appearance, we’re all the same.
We’re all trying to obtain our dreams and goals for the future and we can do this here at JSU.”
In addition to the program held by the College of Public Service, the JSU Veteran Center collaborated with the Crisis Prevention Resource (CPR) Program, to host several activities in the Student Center, including an Appreciation Breakfast with JSU alumnus and 172D Communications Flight Commander Cydridge Gray as the speaker, followed by a symposium discussing issues impacting women veterans.
The guest speaker for the forum was GV Sonny Medical Center program manager, Linda Mack, who talked about issues such as post-traumatic disorder, military sexual trauma, women’s healthcare benefits, and breast cancer awareness.
Veterans also were able to get information from the VA Healthcare Benefits Mobile Unit and take advantage of discounts on haircuts, bookstore purchases and Subway meals.
Timothy Abram, director of JSU Veterans Center, said last week that that veteran and military students should be honored and thanked for their love of their country.
“It’s the sacrifices that our student veterans have made for the country, keeping us free from enemies both foreign and domestic. It’s important that we show our support for all that our student veterans do to protect this country,” said Abrams.
