By RORY MOORE
Tiger Media Network
Fort Hays State University’s Office of Student Engagement hosted a Veterans Day event inside Memorial Union on Tuesday, encouraging students to write postcards and letters to war veterans thanking them for their service to mark the holiday. Student workers from the office created a sign where others wrote their messages, which will be sent to the Dodge City VFW.
In addition to the event, Student Engagement also used the opportunity to inform students about the Flag Hanging services around Hays beginning at 4:30 this afternoon.
“We’re just making sure that we’re showing our support to veterans and they know that we have their support for Fort Hays State,” Student Engagement Leader Morgan Drake said.
The effort to show gratitude has received positive feedback from a few who served.
“I did get a professor who came over, and I met him,” Drake said. “He served for 24 years, and he had a military coin he was going to give one of his buddies. He told us what he did, so it was really cool meeting someone who has served for that long, and he seemed so excited to write a message for others like him.”
The event had a personal level of importance for Drake, whose late grandfather was a veteran.
“I’m not sure what branch [he served in],” she said. “We weren’t very close, but it’s cool to know that I at least had someone who served in the military or as a veteran.”
Drake believes Student Engagement’s effort is important to mend a divided country.
“I think it’s important to support our country with everything going on right now,” he said. “It’s important to know that while people can be upset at what’s going on globally or politician-wise, they’re here for a reason. They’re supporting us and being brave, and that’s what we need to focus on.”