Published: November 09, 2009 07:33 pm      

Shots ring out as ceremony salutes area’s heroes

ATHENS — Area veterans were saluted Monday by staff and students at Concord University during a patriotic ceremony that included a 21-gun salute and the dedication of a new POW/MIA flag in front of Marsh Hall.

U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall, D-W.Va., who served as the keynote speaker for the veterans appreciation ceremony, said the tragedy at Fort Hood has cast a shadow over Veterans Day activities across the nation this year. The West Virginia lawmaker asked those students, staff, veterans and community members in attendance to say a prayer for the families of the Fort Hood victims.

“Certainly there should have been red flags in my opinion that warned us of this individual,” Rahall said.

Rahall joined Concord University President Dr. Gregory F. Aloia in thanking area veterans for their service, including the estimated 90 veterans who are now attending classes at Concord.

“I feel very strongly about supporting our veterans,” Rahall said. “Not only on Veterans Day, but on every other day of the week.”

Rahall said it is imperative for communities, and lawmakers, to support veterans.

“We know for example today that we are creating more veterans now than ever in our history,” Rahall said. “Yet we are not sufficiently thanking them and helping them.”

Rahall said President Barack Obama is now facing a critical decision on whether or not to send more American troops to Afghanistan.

“I don’t know what the decision will be,” Rahall said. “But let me make one thing perfectly clear to foes and friends in this country or anywhere else. Although we may debate policies once we make a decision and policy is made and those men and women are deployed, we should back them 1,000 percent.”

Many of the veterans currently attending Concord are utilizing the benefits of the Post 9/11 GI Bill, according to Aloia, who also serves as the chairperson of the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission’s Veterans Task Force. The group is charged with working to advance the recruitment, retention and graduation of veterans at the state’s institutions of higher learning.

“Words cannot express how much gratitude we owe to our veterans,” Aloia said. “The least we can do is make our campus, and all of our campuses in West Virginia, the most veteran-friendly possible.”

The new Post 9/11 GI Bill provides educational assistance for individuals who served on active duty on or after Sept. 11, 2001, according to Greg Quick, interim vice president of advancement at the university. The bill is the nation’s largest increase in veterans educational benefits since World War II.

Concord University Veterans Committee Chairperson Lisa Spencer said there are currently 88 veterans enrolled at Concord, including 23 who are attending through the new Post 9/11 GI Bill. Spencer said the university is working to make Concord a veteran-friendly campus.

Monday’s ceremony included a ribbon cutting ceremony and POW/MIA flag dedication.

George Williams, a Navy/Army veteran currently enrolled at Concord University, helped to cut the ribbon for the new POW/MIA Flag. Three currently enrolled veterans on campus — Airman 1st Class Andrew Pritt, 130th Airlift Wing-Communication Flight, Private 1st Class Charles Eary, 304th Military Police Company and Sgt. Thomas Hilliker, E-5 U.S. Army — also participated in the POW/MIA flag dedication. A 21 gun salute followed by members of the Mercer County Veterans Council.

– Contact Charles Owens at cowens@bdtonline.com