Soldiers, students come together in remembrance of U.S. veterans

By Kaitlyn Schallhorn
schallhornk@mytjnow.com

Students, faculty and community members could read the names of fallen U.S. soldiers on Veteran’s Day. Photo by John Rhodes • rhodesj@mytjnow.comIn sync with 182 colleges nationwide, Winthrop held a special Veteran’s Day celebration in honor of the tenth anniversary of Sept. 11.

Beginning at 8 am, students, faculty and members of the community gathered at three different locations as over 6,000 names were read in remembrance of the fallen soldiers from Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. 

Once the names were read, the assembly moved to the amphitheater in time for a moment of silence and patriotic music from Phi Mu Alpha fraternity. The Rock Hill Police Department presented flags.

Command Sgt. Joseph Midland addressed all gathered on the steps of the amphitheatre despite the chilly wind.  

“What a beautiful Veteran’s Day,” Midland began his speech.  “Good morning, Winthrop.”

Midland captivated his audience as he recognized veterans as heroes in his speech.  

“Those [veterans] are the real heroes.  They don’t wear capes,” Midland said.

“As long as I have memory, I will think of them every day.  As I leave earth, I’m certain that my last thought will be of my family and my comrades,” Midland said. 

The Veteran’s Day celebration concluded with the readings of the names of the fallen North and South Carolina soldiers. 

“It’s important that we honor North and South Carolina names in a special way for people on campus,” said Michael Widrich, senior psychology and biology double major.  

Widrich believed that everyone on campus either knows or is in some way affected by a soldier.  

Widrich, who is a veteran himself, is also president and founder of the Student Veterans of Winthrop University.  

He spent over four months planning for the Veteran’s Day event, he said. 

“It’s quite an honor,” Widrich said in reference to the event.  “I feel so honored to be in the presence of everyone that made it out here.”

Widrich, who is set to graduate in December 2012, spent one year in Korea and 19 months in Baghdad, Iraq.  He was an M1A1 Abrams crew member on a main battle tank moving up the ranks from driver to loader and ending up as a gunner.  He also earned the esteemed rank of corporal while serving.

With family in the Rock Hill area, Widrich chose not to return to Texas, but to attend Winthrop instead. 

Students and veterans stand and watch names of fallen soldiers being read. Photo by John Rhodes • rhodesj@mytjnow.com“Since I was going to have a long vacation here anyways, I put in an application and got accepted.”

But Widrich could not just stop at attending classes. 

Instead, he founded the Student Veterans of Winthrop University and is constantly working on projects through this organization.  

The Student Veterans of Winthrop University serve to advocate physical and psychological aspects of being a soldier, according to Widrich.  

It is more than just a support group, he said. 

The organization allows student veterans to connect and bond with each other in order to expand the university’s military policies.  

“There are a lot of challenges returning soldiers face while at school,” Widrich said.

One of the projects that Widrich and fellow student vets are trying to pursue includes cutting cultural event credit for student veterans.  

Widrich hopes to allow for the university to grant student veterans one credit per month they were deployed in the army. Widrich explained that as a soldier, one must undergo a month of language training as well as basic health training.  Soldiers must also learn the customs of host nations. 

“We’re not just there to have guns, but to win the hearts and minds of Afghanis and Iraqis,” said Widrich.  “It’s about the impact we have on the people while we’re there.”

Widrich is also interested in implementing a program that would allow for student veterans to room together, allowing for a sort of support and understanding.  

“It’s been a pleasure learning of all the veterans on campus,” Widrich said.  “When I first started at Winthrop, I knew I wasn’t the only veteran, but I felt like I was the only veteran.”  

Meeting other student veterans has given Widrich a support system and allowed for him to grow as an individual, he said.

After graduation, Widrich hopes to work with Veteran’s Affairs or with the university with veteran relations.  

He is also interested in counseling and psychology, focusing on veteran counseling.  

“Some people gave some; some people gave all.  It’s them that gave their last bit of devotion to our country,” Widrich said.  “It’s important for Winthrop to see the sacrifices we made for our freedom.”

“Veteran’s Day means the world to me.  It’s not about celebrating me as a veteran, but the commitment and sacrifice others made,” Widrich said, as he admitted that he has a tendency to downplay his own personal sacrifice and commitment. 

“I’m very grateful for the people who served before me and who will serve after me so that I can have the same freedom as everyone else.”