OUR OPINION: While everyone should be thankful to veterans every day of the year, Veterans Day is an opportunity for every person at the University to recognize veterans of all ages for their service to the nation.
Veterans Day is no longer just a holiday for soldiers from World War II, Korea and Vietnam. With the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, more and more college-age people are coming back from battlegrounds around the world.
There is no specific date when we should appreciate veterans for their service in defense of this nation. But regardless of whether you support the wars they fight in, students should all make a special effort to recognize and honor veterans of all ages for defending our nation
The University should also work to address the problems some student veterans may face with disability, counseling and benefits paperwork.
Jason Lindsay, a senior in political science and chair of the Student Senate Public Affairs Committee who served in Iraq with the U.S. army in 2003, said the University has done a better job than some other universities in processing veterans’ benefits, but could still do more.
Lindsay said the Counseling Center and Disability Services have been helpful in securing additional services to assist student veterans. But he also said the University has not managed to come up with solutions to handle the increasing amount of paperwork for G.I. bill payments and V.A. benefits.
Again, veterans are no longer just grandparents or older relatives who fought in previous conflicts. The University should work to address issues like traumatic brain injury, which can have significant effects on a veteran’s studies. Administrators should also look to improve how G.I. Bill and VA benefits are submitted and processed.
Lindsay also said most of the events meant to recognize veterans have been from student groups. With the increasing number of student veterans, the University should attempt to recognize the service and sacrifice of those who fought for the nation and then chose to come to N.C. State.
Every student should make a special effort to thank his or her fellow classmates who decided to keep our nation safe and work toward getting a quality education.
The University should match and exceed that individual effort. Every student at State deserves a chance to receive a quality education, and this Veterans Day should be used to address the difficulties veterans may face.
