In 1919, President Wilson proclaimed Nov. 11 of each year to be Armistice Day, a day to remember, those who served our nation in World War I as members of the United States Armed Forces.
When inaugurating the holiday, he stated: “To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of nations.”
Congress changed the name to Veterans Day in 1954 to include the men and women who served in World War II and the Korean conflict. Today, Nov. 11 serves as a day to honor all our veterans for their love of our nation and willingness to sacrifice, sometimes with their lives, in service to democracy and their fellow Americans.
We are proud to have many veterans at CR, serving in every area of the college, from faculty and staff to the administration. Many others are students, here to pursue their education. This week, as our country celebrated Veterans Day and honored their selfless service and sacrifice, I thought it important that we all take a moment to recognize those veterans within our own CR community.
Over the past few weeks, we asked CR staff and student veterans to share their stories. The stories we received highlight the courage and dedication of individuals from diverse backgrounds and branches of service and the valuable lessons we can all learn from their example. Our veterans remind us of the profound and often painful challenges many of them face after military service and highlight how institutions like College of the Redwoods and Cal Poly Humboldt are pivotal in providing a path forward. I was humbled and inspired by their stories, and I would like to share a few of them with you.
Arlonna Hadley is a CR business student who served in the Colorado Army National Guard for almost 10 years. In that time, she deployed to the Balkans and participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom. She came to CR because she wanted to further her studies, and CR was the only affordable option for her in the area. She says that the environment at CR is particularly encouraging and uplifting and has allowed her to find herself after years of isolating depression and PTSD.
Dr. Kintay D. Johnson, CR’s director of the Multicultural and Equity Center is a fourth-generation soldier, who joined the Army at just 17 years old. From a very young age, Kintay knew he wanted to serve his country. He served eight years in the infantry as a petroleum laboratory technician.
CR student Richard Congdon is a seventh-generation Humboldt County resident, who served in the Army and Colorado Army National Guard for close to 11 years. Serving in the military was both a personal commitment and a defining experience in his life. He joined because he wanted to be part of something greater than himself, to serve a purpose that demanded his best effort and dedication. The sense of duty and the opportunity to protect and serve his country were incredibly motivating factors. The physical and emotional challenges, and family sacrifices he made reinforced his resilience and gave him a deep appreciation for the freedoms we have.
To CR student Joseph Neller, serving in the Marine Corps meant doing his part for his country. It did not feel right for him to enjoy the liberties provided to him in the U.S. without having done something to earn them. Joseph deployed with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit SW Pacific to Guam, Japan, Thailand, Singapore, South Korea, and Timor Leste.
Dutch Plante is a recent graduate of CR’s forestry program and a recipient of a paramedic degree and has a distinguished history of military service. Dutch joined the US Army as a combat medic and LVN and served on active duty with the 61st Area Support Medical Battalion, in the California Reserves with the 579th Engineers Battalion, and the Utah Army National Guard with the 144th Area Support Medical Company (Detachment 5). He committed himself in service of his country in the belief that individual sacrifice has a collective benefit for the rights of every member of our nation.
Even in our administration, the armed forces are represented by Dr. Crystal Morse, Mr. Matthew Gilliland, and me, who began our professional lives in service to our nation.
I want to thank all those members of the College of the Redwoods community who have served in uniform and acknowledge the valuable contributions they make to our college every day. Veteran staff and students’ military experience, patriotism, character, and commitment to others enrich our college community in many ways. They served to protect our Constitution from enemies both foreign and domestic so that every American, regardless of political viewpoint or affiliation, enjoy the freedom of expression and are able to vote their conscience without fear.
Dr. Keith Flamer is the president of the College of the Redwoods.
