On a national holiday aimed to celebrate brave men and women who have served in our nation’s military, USC takes the time to honor its very own Trojan veterans. The First Gen Plus Success Center, in collaboration with the Veterans Resource Center, hosted a Veterans Day Viewing Party earlier today.
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Veterans Day falls every year on November 11th, the day after the Marine Corps birthday. Most public schools around the country observe the day as a national holiday and businesses offer veterans select discounts.
USC’s celebration included a gathering at the centers where a virtual event hosted by USC’s President Carol Folt was played. The space was decorated with red balloons, American flags, and flags representing every branch of the military. Attendees were also treated to lunch.
The current president of USC’s Veterans Association is Marine veteran Johnny Walker. Walker served for 13 years, including tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
JOHNNY WALKER: I joined the Marine Corps, actually, I joined because of 9/11. I was at high school and I was in Texas and my it was in my first class of the day. My teacher left for a second and then I came back running in frantically and turned on the TV. Then I saw that the first tower was already struck. Then I watched the second plane hit the second tower.
Due to COVID, Walker said, the day’s celebrations are limited but USC has managed to find safe ways of bringing folks together to celebrate.
The virtual event featured multiple interviews from USC alumni who are veterans. Many professors at the university who have served before spoke about what being a Trojan veteran means to them.
Walker, who is 34, is currently pursuing his bachelor’s in business administration at the Marshall School of Business.
WALKER: Veterans do provide a different view of the normal traditional student and because most of us aren’t traditional students, most of us are usually above the age of 25. We have a little bit of a life experience that’s different from most. A lot of people can benefit from us.
In attendance at the in-person event was Navy veteran Jordan Sugerman. Sugerman, who served for four years, was excited to be in attendance.
JORDAN SUGERMAN: Veterans Day means a lot to me. It just reminds me of all the sacrifices that past generations and current generations are making.
Sugerman who is 31 years old is studying finance at Marshall. He has hopes of pursuing a career in investment banking and later returning to school to obtain his MBA.
Sugerman is attending USC for a specific purpose.
SUGERMAN: When I was applying to colleges and universities, that was like one of the most important things to me was where were they ranked and their veterans program and USC is known for honoring veterans all the way back to World War One.
Many schools across the country give their students and staff the day off like USC’s rival, UCLA. They give their campus community the day off in observance for the holiday.
USC does not.
WALKER: I don’t understand USC’s understanding for why it’s not where we’re not let off of it, because I just don’t understand. So maybe if we just had that conversation with the faculty and staff about or whoever made the decision for the schedule. Just have a conversation like, you know, why is it? Why are we not allowed a day off?
One thing that Sugerman and Walker hope for in the future is more attention to veterans and the issues they face.
SUGERMAN: I just think just more events like this, just more anything that brings a community of veterans together and celebrates us and kind of highlights our stories and what we’re doing.