Monday, Nov. 11, was Veteran’s Day in America. The holiday, dedicated to remembering and respecting our nation’s veterans, is often remembered by said veterans as the day when they can get a free meal at Applebee’s. But the holiday means more than that, and the Veteran’s Service Center on campus at the University of Wyoming has been dedicated to preserving the character of the holiday with a name reading each year.
The name reading, which takes place in front of the Student Union each year, remembers the fallen veterans from Wyoming who gave their lives in service of the United States during the War on Terror in Afghanistan and Iraq. It took place over several hours and included several veterans on campus reading the names of our fallen heroes aloud.
One of the veterans reading names was Marty Martinez, current director of the Veteran’s Service Center. When asked why the event was important to veterans, Martinez responded, “A national roll call was eventually started a number of years ago by colleges and campuses all across the country to read these names simultaneously in their respective locations . . . Our veterans said that this is an incredible tribute and an incredible memorial, and so we’ve continued it every year.” Martinez continued, after being asked about the importance of the event to him on Veteran’s Day, “We need to remember those who came before us, and those who will come after us, and to honor this day, to remember this day, and to use it to honor every single one of those military veterans.”
Another veteran, Josh Hepworth, the Veteran’s Service Center Project Coordinator, also had some thoughts on the purpose of the event and Veteran’s Day as a whole. When asked what he thought the event meant to veterans on campus, Hepworth said, “This is just one of the ways in which we at the University can recognize all of our veterans, not just those who are currently serving, but the names we’re reading now, those who were lost in the recent wars. The bulk of our veterans on campus have been involved one way or another in the war on terrorism, and this really means a lot to them, and it means a lot to me. I lost a couple of my friends as well as a cousin during this timeframe, and being able to read their names to recognize and show honor is just a tremendous opportunity, and it’s great that we do it in this public forum.”
The University of Wyoming’s Veteran’s Day name reading stands as a reminder of the sacrifices made by those who served in Afghanistan and Iraq. Through the voices of our veterans on campus, the event goes beyond free meals and holiday recognition to a solemn observance honoring Wyoming’s fallen heroes. Each name read aloud is important to our campus veterans, affirming that these lives and their sacrifices aren’t forgotten or taken for granted. The University’s commitment to honoring veterans on this day brings the campus community together in respect and remembrance, ensuring that the legacy of these service members who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country lives on.
