By Samuel Still, Asst. News Editor–
In celebrating Veterans Day, UTC and Veteran Student Services came together to honor members of the UTC community who currently serve or have served in the United States Military.
Beginning with a tribute video posted on UTC’s YouTube page here, the week of Nov. 11 included various in-person and virtual events hosted by UTC and Veteran Student Services with the intent of encouraging engagement between current non-military individuals at UTC and military service members of the past and present.
Assistant Director for Veteran Student Services, Squoia Holmes discussed the importance of celebrating Veterans Day at UTC and encouraging non-military individuals to engage with veterans.
“[Veterans Day] is a way to connect veterans and non-veterans through engagement; building a sense of community. Something very important to veterans.” Holmes said. “But also, most of us are fortunate to know someone who has proudly and honorably served our country and have a tremendous amount of gratitude for any veteran.”
In-person events for Veterans Day included archery tag on Chamberlain Field with a performance by the Freedom Sings USA Band, a hybrid online/in-person scavenger hunt, a Veterans Day Appreciation Event in Lupton Hall and a Tai Chi session in the University Center Tennessee Room instructed by Professor of Anthropology, Dr. Zibin Guo, who instructs the sessions for wheelchair-bound veterans.
Online events included presentations by the Department of Veterans Services and Chattanooga Vet Center, information sessions about the Veteran Peer Mentoring Program and UTC’s SALUTE Veterans Honors Society and a screening of the documentary “The Six Triple Eight,” which focused on the contributions during World War II made by the eponymous military battalion comprised of all Black women.
UTC junior Lindsay Francisco spoke about why she feels student engagement is important on Veterans Day.
“It’s important for students to show their support for veterans because they fought for our freedoms and risked their lives for our country.” Francisco said. “Student involvement with veterans matters because it builds relationships between the two groups, allowing students to understand and be inspired by veterans and their stories”
During the week, UTC released their Veterans Day video address which featured speeches by UTC Chancellor, Steven Angle and UT System President, Randy Boyd focusing on the importance of honoring veterans on campus, in the community and around the country.
Angle and Boyd then gave over the address to Department Head of Military Science, Major Kevin Beavers who talked about his experiences as a veteran and why veterans deserve people’s appreciation.
The address ended with a presentation on the history and current state of UTC’s ROTC program and a video montage of members of the UTC community expressing their gratitude for the contributions that veterans have made. For more information about veterans on campus and in the community visit the Veteran Student Services website here.
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Representatives from Freedom Sings USA, a non-profit benefitting military veterans through song, gather around a booth in front of UTC’s Chamberlain Pavilion. The band was playing during Veteran Student Services and Campus Recreation’s archery tag event, which kicked off a series of events honoring Veterans Week. Monday, November 9, 2020. (Photo by Elizabeth O’Guin)
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Fran Randolph (right), from Quilts of Valor Foundation, speaks during a Veterans Day Appreciation Event as a slideshow of UTC student veterans played on a screen in Lupton Hall. This was one of many events UTC’s Veteran Student Services put on in honor of Veterans Week, where Rudolph presented a Quilt of Valor to UTC student veteran Clayton Curole (left). Wednesday, November 11, 2020. (Photo by Elizabeth O’Guin)
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Fran Randolph, from the Quilts of Valor Foundation, places a Quilt of Valor around UTC student veteran Clayton Curole during a Veterans Day Appreciation Event in Lupton Hall. This was one of many events UTC’s Veteran Student Services put on in honor of Veterans Week, where Rudolph presented a Quilt of Valor to UTC student veteran Clayton Curole. Wednesday, November 11, 2020. (Photo by Elizabeth O’Guin)
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Freedom Sings USA, a non-profit benefitting military veterans through song, plays on UTC’s Chamberlain Pavilion. The band was playing during Veteran Student Services and Campus Recreation’s archery tag event, which kicked off a series of events honoring Veterans Week. Monday, November 9, 2020. (Photo by Elizabeth O’Guin)
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UTC students of the same team all shoot their foam-tipped arrows at the last remaining member of the opposite team during a game of archery tag. Multiple games of tag were played for an entire afternoon on Chamberlain Field, and kicked off a series of events honoring Veterans Week. Monday, November 9, 2020. (Photo by Elizabeth O’Guin)
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UTC students and staff look down the field to aim for the opposite team during a game of archery tag. Multiple games of tag were played for an entire afternoon on Chamberlain Field, and kicked off a series of events honoring Veterans Week. Monday, November 9, 2020. (Photo by Elizabeth O’Guin)
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A UTC student aims her bow and foam-tipped arrow across the field to the opposite team in a game of archery tag. Multiple games of tag were played for an entire afternoon on Chamberlain Field, and kicked off a series of events honoring Veterans Week. Monday, November 9, 2020. (Photo by Elizabeth O’Guin)
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Eddrick Brooks and Craig Gosnell, UTC Campus Recreation’s Coordinator of Club Sports and Assistant Director of Programs and Engagement, ready their foam-tipped arrows during a game of archery tag. Multiple games of tag were played for an entire afternoon on Chamberlain Field, and kicked off a series of events honoring Veterans Week. Monday, November 9, 2020. (Photo by Elizabeth O’Guin)
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A UTC student scans the field to the opposite team with bow and arrow ready during a game of archery tag. Multiple games of tag were played for an entire afternoon on Chamberlain Field, and kicked off a series of events honoring Veterans Week. Monday, November 9, 2020. (Photo by Elizabeth O’Guin)
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UTC Campus Recreation employees Beth Carroll (left), Logan Rader and Caleb Burton (far right) set up inflatable bunkers for a game of archery tag on UTC’s Chamberlain Field. Multiple games of tag were played for an entire afternoon on Chamberlain Field, and kicked off a series of events honoring Veterans Week. Monday, November 9, 2020. (Photo by Elizabeth O’Guin)