Honoring Our Veterans

Fort Worth, TX

11/10/2010

By Kathryn Hopper, TCU Magazine

The TCU community honored the nation’s veterans in a wreath-laying ceremony Wednesday to remember those who have given their lives to preserve our nation’s freedoms

Chancellor Victor J. Boschini placed the wreath in the Veterans Memorial Plaza on campus, near the memorial markers that list Fallen Frogs, those known to have died in military service. The ceremony drew members of the TCU Army and Air Force ROTC programs, as well as veterans and students from the Starpoint School.

In his remarks, Boschini recognized the 165 TCU students who are veterans and asked that all veterans in attendance stand to be honored.

“On behalf of TCU, I want to thank you for your bravery, your valor and most of all your unwavering dedication to the United States of America,” he said. “God bless you all.”

Lt. Col. Jara Lang, professor of aerospace studies and ranking officer with Air Force ROTC Detachment 845, also known as the Flying Frogs, said all members of the military, past and present, have one thing in common — the oath they take to support and defend the Constitution of the United States.

 “We all take that oath dedicated, and with the courage to face the possibility of dying for in defense of our nation,” she said.

 Lt. Col. Christopher Talcott, professor of military science with the Army ROTC’s Horned Frog Battalion, shared a quote from Herb Suerth Jr., a member of the famed “Band of Brothers,” that served during World War II. When Suerath was asked what young people today should remember about World War II, he said: “It’s important that we relate World War II to what’s going on today. We have to realize there will always be people out there who want what we have. The only way this nation exists today is because there had been 3.5 million men and women from 1776 to today who have died in the name of liberty for the United States.

“It does no good to wish that countries would simply lay down their arms and be nice to us. It isn’t going to happen. Unless you are willing to stand up and be counted for what you believe in, you will lose all the freedoms that are important to you.”

TCU Veterans Day events also include a moment of silence to be observed at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11, handing out yellow ribbons and sending cards to support the troops.