A look back on Veterans Day 2016 at OSU
Thursday, November 17, 2016
Oklahoma State University took a step into the future on Veterans Day, Friday, Nov. 11, while remembering its past.
During a standing room only ceremony, OSU President Burns Hargis and Northern Oklahoma College President Dr. Cheryl Evans cut the ribbon on the first phase of the Veteran Success Center in the North Classroom Building. The center provides a space for veterans and other military-affiliated students at both OSU and NOC to study or just gather and share information and experiences. It is the first space on campus which is reserved exclusively for veteran and military-affiliated students.
The center gives this unique group a place to talk candidly among themselves as they make the difficult transition from the military to student life.
Veteran Cass Garrigus put it best when he said, “Having a place to go to and be with people who have shared some of the same experiences and who talk the same language is sometimes all you need to get through a rough day or week.”
In addition to the center itself, there are office spaces on the third floor of the North Classroom Building which provide space for student veterans who administer the Peer Advisors for Veteran Education (PAVE) program at OSU and NOC.
These offices are also used for counseling, which is offered by the Vet Center in Tulsa, including reintegration counselling to combat veterans at OSU and in the community and by Veteran Service Officers with Disabled American Veterans and Veteran Service Representatives with the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs. These last two provide assistance to veterans and their families who are filing benefit claims with the U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Immediately following the ribbon cutting, President Hargis joined those OSU alumni who’ve been inducted into the Oklahoma Military Hall of Fame or family members representing them, to unveiled a wall in their honor.
“Within the military, history, traditions and honoring those who have gone before are extremely important and part of the culture,” said Rick Hansen, coordinator of Veteran Student Academic Services at OSU and retired Marine Corps captain.
“It is paramount that we remember the long history OAMC/OSU and our alumni have with the military,” Hansen said. “By recognizing our OSU Family members who have not only sacrificed, but have performed heroic acts while defending our nation, we further enrich our community.”
Find out more about OAMC/OSU alumni in the Oklahoma Military Hall of Fame by going to http://www.okmhf.org/.
Following the unveiling, Hargis signed a proclamation naming OSU the first Purple Heart University in Oklahoma and the 25th nationally. The Military Order of the Purple Heart originally approached OSU in June of 2016 about its desire to recognize the university for its long affiliation with the military and continued support of veterans and military-affiliated students as well as ROTC on campus.
As mandated under the Morrill Act, the college required military training as part of the curriculum from its start. In 1916, just before World War I, the Army took over this training and provided equipment to uniform and arm the corps of cadets on campus. The training requirement continued for male students until about 1965.
During World War II, the campus was home to Army and Navy training operations and earned the nickname of “Foxhole University.” Just prior to and during the war, over 40,000 men and women received educational service certificates in over a dozen military and military support fields. This included over 10,000 Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES) trained to perform secretarial and clerical functions for the navy in order to free more men to fight during World War II. The last group of WAVES graduated from OAMC on April 16, 1945.
Following World War II there was a huge influx of veterans to campus who were taking advantage of the educational benefits they earned fighting during the war. A severe shortage of housing prompted the university to purchased surplus A-frame buildings and Quonset huts to house veterans and their families. By 1949, Veterans Village was incorporated with over 5,000 residents. Veterans Village was located in that area that is now used by University Housing.
With the signing of the Post 9/11 GI Bill Act in 2008, OSU experienced another influx of veteran students to campus, which led to the creation of the Office of Veteran Student Academic Services and the signing a commitment to implement the “Eight Keys to Veterans’ Success” with U. S. Department of Education. The office helps demonstrate OSU’s ongoing commitment to support our Nation’s veteran and military-affiliated students.
Among the OAMC/OSU alumni who have distinguished themselves in defense of their country is Lieutenant General George Price Hay who left the college to join the Army shortly after the U.S. entered WWI. His Medal of Honor citation reads: At the very outset of the unprecedented artillery bombardment by the enemy, his line of communication was destroyed beyond repair. Despite the hazard attached to the mission of runner, he immediately set out to establish contact with the neighboring post of command and further establish liaison with two French batteries, visiting their position so frequently that he was mainly responsible for the accurate fire therefrom. While thus engaged, seven horses were shot under him and he was severely wounded. His activity under most severe fire was an important factor in checking the advance of the enemy.
OSU is proud to be a Purple Heart University.
Following the signing of the proclamation, Sgt. 1st Class James Battles presented President Hargis with a plaque recognizing Oklahoma State University as a Purple Heart University.
Lt. Col. Schwertfeger addressed the audience and pointed out that only in Oklahoma does one see the kind of support towards those that have served in the military, active duty military, and those preparing to serve in the military received daily. Only in Oklahoma and at OSU do you witness students, faculty, and staff putting out 6,884 flags to honor those service men and women who have given their lives in our defense. As he put it, “It makes me proud to have served.”