AFJROTC inauguration for the first year cadets and those currently ranked occurred simultaneously with Veterans Day, on Tuesday, November 11. Cadets received recognition for their accomplishments and awards while listening to veterans speak of their experiences serving in the military

According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Day is an official holiday that honors military veterans, or people who served in the United States Armed Forces.

Colonel Ryan is a retired veteran from the United States Air Force. He served for 34 years, and is currently one of the instructors for the Eleanor Roosevelt High School AFJROTC program. Colonel Ryan was an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Launch crew commander, evaluator, and instructor for five years. He spends the rest of his time as a special agent for the Air Force offices.

Colonel said he believes Veterans Day is a tremendous way for people to recognize soldiers who have served our country throughout the centuries. “[Veterans Day] is to honor those folks who answered the call to serve their country, to contain and maintain and protect the rights and privileges that all united states citizens have,” said Ryan.

Second Lieutenant, Hakeem Conteh, Drill Team member, also gave his definition of Veterans Day. “Veterans Day is the one day to show the veterans how we appreciate them, and show them we are thankful for them saving our country.”

Eleanor Roosevelt High School nurse, Captain Megan Benson, who was not at the ceremony, cared to share a life-changing moment that impacted her as a reserved nurse in a medical surgical unit of the Army.

Captain Benson said, “I [took] care of a particular soldier. He’s always been in my mind. He had an arm transplant in the military. The [soldier] had his arm blown off by an RPG (Rocket Propelled Grenade) and the surgeons sewed his arm back on. It’s a pretty amazing surgery that I was able to follow him for nine months.”

Senior Airman, Jose Melendez, participant of ERHS Color Guard and Drill Team, comes from a military background. “My uncle is a Sergeant in the Army and my grandfather served in the Vietnam War,” he said.

Senior Airman, Jonah Pitts explained the significance of his outfit, “The whole jean vest, cowboy hat, and sunglasses I always wear to [school],” he said, “has a connection to Veterans Day.”

“My Grandpa Miller was quite a character. He was deployed to the Philippines during the Vietnam War, and that was where he got the jean vest that I wear everyday. My uncle used to [also] be in the Navy. My family — we have a military history,” Pitts said.

Tech Sergeant, Ralph Rosales, part of Army Exhibition, ERHS Color Guard, and Drill Team said, “I don’t have any family members that are veterans, but I respect them for their service.”

“It’s good to show how we honor the people who served us. But I prefer to show that everyday, not just once, because they serve us everyday and we only show it one day a year. It’s my opinion. I think we need to appreciate everyday,” said Melendez.

“We could hold more celebrations for veterans. For example, we can have parades and more recognition in television to commend Veterans Day even more throughout the country,” advised Rosales. Conteh said, “We already have a lot of things in place. We have discounts for veterans and job fairs, because when they come from service they don’t have a [job]. We should help them find jobs,” he said.

“I am all for it. I in fact wish I can do more to honor veterans. I have nothing but respect for them, especially for the ones I relate to, because my Grandpa Miller lost his leg when his bomber went down. My uncle wasn’t really in combat, but he was in combat of his own,” said Pitts in respect of wanting to do more for Veterans Day.