Above, vice president of UNCG’s Student Veterans Association.

By Lauren Cherry, News Editor

Published in print Nov 19. 2014

Last Tuesday UNC-Greensboro held a ceremony in honor of Veterans Day.

The celebration started at 6 a.m. with volunteers reading the names of fallen soldiers lost in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

The afternoon portion consisted of reading the names of deceased soldiers from North Carolina.

“My nephew, Corporal Robert Thomas Callahan, age 22, Jamestown,” read Cheryl Callahan, vice chancellor of student affairs at UNCG.

Chen-Yang Liu, vice president of UNCG’s Student Veterans Association and specialist in the United States Army Reserve, read several names from the list.

“On this hallowed day we also give recognition and thanks to the men and women who have served and are serving,” said Liu.

Lui continued, “From the moment they raised their hand and swore the oath, they volunteered their lives to defending the constitution and everything it stands for. They did this unselfishly without the expectation of special treatment or recognition.”

Next, Callahan spoke about the history of Veterans Day, originally titled Armistice Day.

Congress declared November 11 a legal federal holiday in 1938. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation in 1954 changing the name from Armistice Day to Veterans Day, to honor veterans from all wars.

“UNCG stands strong in support of our veterans,” said Callahan, “We’ve been named a military friendly school for the fourth straight year an honor bestowed only on the top 15 percent of colleges and universities in this country.” 

Half of the 500 students on benefits of GI bill are veterans or active service personnel.

UNCG opened a Veterans Resource Center for students on Tuesday housed in Spring Garden apartments.

“But let’s never forget to thank those in active service now and not when it’s too late, as it is for those we have recognized today,” said Callahan.

Callahan then introduced veteran Jim Hoffman, an attorney with Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice LLP. and founder of a non-profit, Heroes for America which helps veterans find jobs, housing and education.

“I think that you all owe some special thanks to your vice chancellor of student affairs who held it together very well as she read the name of her nephew,” said Hoffman.

Hoffman mentioned current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. He also asked attendees why they chose to participate in UNCG’s celebration of Veterans Day.

“Especially today, we honor those who paid the ultimate price, those who laid down their life to preserve freedom, those who sacrificed all to save our way of life,” Hoffman said.

Hoffman urged attendees to be inspired by the courage of veterans.

Some attendees were veterans or active service members; others were affected by the loss of a loved one or wanted to pay homage to veterans.