Community College Veterans Program Aims To Facilitate Transition To Civilian Life
WARREN (WWJ) - Recognizing the service of U.S. military veterans at an event held on their campus, Macomb Community College hosted veterans and special guest speakers.
"Veterans day plays a big role in the campus life, because we have many staff who are veterans, but we also have students. We have over 400 veterans from Afganistan and Iraq who have recently served." said Macomb Community College President Jim Jacobs.
U.S. Army Master Diver Sgt. Tracy Bower was guest speaker at Macomb Community College's celebration of US military veterans both past and present. In his speech Bowersays the message he wanted to get across to the audience focused on the millenial generation veteran. According to Sgt. Bower, these young veterans are getting a bad rap. "They have a reputation, he says, for not being good workers or for being very self-centered. But, there's something society needs to keep in mind ..." he said.
Bower, who's been in the Army sixteen years, thanks Vietnam-era vets for making certain those military vets who followed received better treatment than they did. "These young men and women, these veterans, who have served and gone to war -- that's all they have known their entire adult life or entire teenage life was America at war. Every night they would hear the body counts of how many men have died or been wounded or maimed for life. And yet, they still volunteer," said Bower.
Aiding military veterans in overcoming certain challenges is a focus of a special program at the school. "... to make sure that our veterans who go to Macomb get the best kinds of services and we integrate them and transition them into civilian life as best as possible," explained Jacobs.
The event included an honor guard and "The Armed Services Medley," which honors each branch of the military. The ceremonies took place simultaneously on their south and central campuses.
