SCC to celebrate Veterans Day with series of events Nov 12 14

SCC is bringing the community together with a series of events in honor of Veterans Day, Nov. 12-14. Events are free and open to the public.

The events will kick off with the college's annual Veterans Celebration at noon Monday, Nov. 12, in the Daniel J. Social Sciences Building auditorium, a celebration honoring veterans with music and spoken word. The ceremony will include a keynote from U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Garrett V.H. Randel III.

Lt. Col. Randel is the director of sustainment distribution in the U.S. Transportation Command Operations Directorate. USTRANSCOM is a functional combatant command with a mission to project and sustain military power, enable global reach and provide a full range of flexible and responsive options to national leadership while presenting multiple dilemmas for potential adversaries.

Lt. Col. Randel enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1996 after graduating from Boise State University in Boise, Idaho, and has served as an infantryman with 1^st Battalion, 7^th Marines, as an officer with Commander Naval Supply Systems Command, Weapon System Support-Philadelphia, and with various Marine Aviation Logistics Squadrons. Most recently he served as commander of the Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training-Cherry Point, North Carolina.

At 4 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13, the SCC Student Veterans Organization will host a showing of "The Battle for Marjah" in the SSB auditorium. The 2010 documentary film tells the compelling, true story of a company of United States Marines as they are dropped into the center of the Afghani town of Marjah, where the enemy lies in wait. The film will be followed by a short discussion and Q&A with student veterans who deployed to similar regions.

The Got Your Six Support Dogs will be on campus at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 14, on the campus plaza near the Learning Resource Center. Students and community members can come meet some canine trainees. Got Your Six Support Dogs is committed to providing specialized service dogs to veterans suffering from PTSD, traumatic brain injury and/or sexual trauma. Their mission is to help those men and women regain their lives through the healing power of dogs. For more information on Got Your Six Support Dogs, visit gotyoursixsupportdogs.org. Note: in the event of inclement weather, the alternate site is the ADM atrium area.

A SVO Lounge Open House and Meet and Greet will be held from noon-4 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 14, in the Administration Building, Room 1224. Attendees are invited to participate in an Open House in the Student Veterans Lounge, hosted by the SCC Student Veterans Organization (SVO). Stop by to learn more about SVO and how to get involved or just grab a refreshment and get to know some of our members.

SVO is an all-inclusive student club whose purpose is to provide transitional and educational support, camaraderie and personal development for veterans, veteran supporters, current service members and their families.

A Student Veterans Forum will also be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 14, in ADM 1224. During the SVO Lounge Open House, a diverse group of SCC student veterans will host an open forum to discuss their experiences both in and outside the military. Topics will range from the boot camp experience to war to life as a veteran attending community college. Attendees will be encouraged to participate and ask questions.

For more information on Veterans Week events, visit stchas.edu/veteransweek. To learn more about services for veterans on campus, the Student Veteran Organization and Honoring Military Families Scholarship, contact Andrew Gates, veterans services coordinator, at 636-922-8268.