By Kiersten Hacker
Each year, new students transition to the college experience. For student veterans, the change can be extra challenging.
But one thing is certain, Marine Corps veteran Joeanne Thomas said, “we’ve all been through it, and we can get through it together.”
The University of Maryland recognizes November as Veterans Month, honoring veterans with weekly events through the Adele H. Stamp Student Union and Veteran Student Life, where Thomas is the graduate assistant.
Thomas, a clinical psychology master’s student, said Veterans Month is her favorite time of the year because she enjoys planning events and engaging with other student veterans.
“There’s just so many different events, and it’s so great to see. It’s really like a homecoming or family reunion,” Thomas said. “You just see a TerpVets shirt, and you know they’re one of you. And you take them under your wing and make them feel welcome.”
Michael Pappan, a Marine Corps veteran and junior aerospace engineering major, said he enjoyed coming together with fellow veterans, alumni and scholarship donors at the Nov. 6 Veterans Reception and military appreciation football game.
“At the reception is where I got the warm and fuzzies from because they played every branch’s hymn,” Pappan said. “And then they played the Marine Corps hymn and I was like, ‘Oh wow, this brings back memories.’”
Thomas said Veteran Student Life Coordinator David Reese worked to make Veterans Month events more on veteran students, instead of parading them around campus as “token veterans.”
Timothy White, an Army veteran and sophomore transferring into engineering, said UMD recognizes student veterans’ service and supports them through all the issues they face when transitioning from military life to civilian life.
But celebrations like Veterans Month can be awkward for veterans, too. White said many people do not understand veterans’ experiences. Still, White said he is grateful to be a veteran because the Army gave him direction and made him a better person.
White said he and other veterans joke about being thanked for their service — and the red, white and blue decorations in grocery stores that blend Veterans Day with Memorial Day and Independence Day.
“We do want to render honor to people that are willing to support and defend their country, but it’s little things that make us uncomfortable,” White said.
The final Veterans Month event, the Ruck March through campus with Mission 22, is scheduled to start from McKeldin Mall at 6:30 p.m. Monday.
Featured photo: Flags line the Veteran Center study room, another place for veteran students to gather as the center pursues its mission to build and maintain a community of veteran and military-connected students, staff, faculty and alumni. Photo by Kiersten Hacker.