In celebration of Veterans Day, Harper Student Engagement invited both students and local veterans to partake in the Wheels of Gratitude event, which included local veteran-owned food truck businesses that sold food to the Harper community.
Roughly two hundred students came to support the troops and enjoy the wide variety of food being served: from pulled pork to street tacos, Philly cheesesteaks to grilled cheeses, almost anything worth craving was being prepared fresh in the Harper quad. Along with the local veterans visiting the campus, many currently enlisted Harper students were recognized in the event’s demonstrations. Michael Neiland, a local leader in the community and veteran himself, gave a speech and led the Presentation of Colors for the event.
According to Harper student Cyril DeJesus, events like this one go a long way in demonstrating gratitude for veterans and their military service.
“This is spreading awareness, Having all of these people out here – I mean, look how many students are out here!” DeJesus remarked. “I think it is a really good way of spreading out the word, and giving more meaning to it.”
Another student, Zach Diaz, agreed with DeJesus, saying that community events like this are worth it simply because it’s an uplifting opportunity to see “everybody come together.”
David Glomp is the owner of a BBQ food truck that helped cater the event, as well as a veteran himself. From his experience, these kinds of student-centric events are extremely meaningful to the troops they pay tribute to – no matter if they come from community colleges or elementary schools – and he was happy to get an opportunity to give back to all those who have served after him.
“I always liked getting letters in the mail. Kids, teens, anyone can send a letter to anybody in the service,” Glomp said. “Sometimes when you are out there and in the field it gets a little lonely. You can get in your head. It’s just a little something to take you back home.”
Not only was there delicious food all around, but the Center for Student Veterans and Military-Connected Students also held a toy drive for Toys for Tots, as well as a Native American ceremony to honor the Natives who have fought in our nation’s army. The ceremony was a Native American dance, featuring a group of drummers that invited audience members to partake in their tradition.
Christiana Starr, one of the dancers in the ceremony, expressed that it was an honor to participate in this kind of celebration, as she views Veterans Day as “more than just a day.”
“It means a lot,” Starr said. “We highly respect veterans in Native American culture because we have had veterans since before America was settled. Within our encampments and our warriors going out to battle, they were always celebrated when they returned home.”
According to Military Times, Native Americans have made up 19% of our army since the 9/11 attacks. Because of this prevalence, Starr believes it is important to bring her own culture to events such as this one; not only as a way to inform the wider world about the impact Native Americans have had on our armed services, but to also rightfully honor those who have served that might not normally be recognized.
“When they sing these songs and do these dances, it has more meaning because not only do the current veterans that have their lives get celebrated, but there are other songs that talk about those triumphs,” Starr said.”They talk about the flag, [and] all the places it has been to.”
T. Gelinas • Dec 25, 2023 at 10:43 am
Very well written article!