November is Military Appreciation Month, and the Temple community is doing what they can to make sure our Veteran’s know how much they are truly appreciated.
Although Military Appreciation Month is a national recognition, what makes Temple’s celebration of our veterans and current soldiers so unique is the 690 members that belong to the Temple Veteran’s Association. A group on campus that aims at three things: reintegrating veterans socially, academically, and professionally.
“It’s great to see that Temple has such support for Veterans,” says TVA member Frank Dimartini. “I didn’t know when I was going to school here, but compared to other universities that we work with, we’re very supported here.”
Silas Adams is the president of the Veteran’s Association and is a sophomore here at Temple. After 8 years of serving in Iraq and Afghanistan as a Marine and protecting former president George W. Bush, Adams came home to Philadelphia. Like most Veteran’s, Silas found it challenging to transition from the war to a school setting. He explained that coming home from war is one hard task, but learning how to be in school with students who are very different from you are, is a completely different task.
“We come from a very rigid structure, to a place such as Temple, where we’re sitting in a classroom,” he says.
Adams adds that being apart of the Temple Veterans Association helps get through difficult times with people who understand.
Temple also has an ROTC program that is designed as a college elective curriculum course. The Temple ROTC program and the members of the TVA collaborate and throughout the month of November, and Veteran’s Day especially, the Temple ROTC cadets showed their support.
Marc Young of the Temple ROTC says, “we’re not only here, but we’re also at Ambler, the Constitution Center, and at the Union League, so we’re spread out, supporting several major events today.”
There are many Temple Veterans including the men’s head basketball coach, Fran Dunphy, and newly appointed athletic director Kevin Clark. To show appreciation for all of the alumni, current students, faculty and staff who have served or are currently serving in the military, Temple hosted a Veterans Ceremony at Founder’s Garden on campus on Veterans Day
“I think it’s great, especially to have it here on a college campus. It seems like there is going to be a big turn out. I’m excited and glad to be a part of it,” says Petty-Officer Second Class Jeff Nagel.
Nagel represented the Coast Guard in the ceremony by bringing in the flag.
Students have also sent care packages overseas to show support for our current military. In addition, there were corporations at the men’s basketball season home opener versus Kent State. There, members of the Temple Veterans Association got to meet and talk with the corporations in hopes of getting a job. Temple will continue to honor both Veterans and current soldiers throughout the rest of November.
For more information about the Temple Veterans Association and a list of events they will be taking part in, not only this month, but all year round, visit their website.
Be the first to comment