UWRF honors Veterans Day

There will be a total of 6,300 American Flags set up outside the UW-River Falls University Center throughout the week of Nov. 6-12, in honor of Veterans Day, which is Nov. 11, to recognize the U.S. veterans killed in Iraq or Afghanistan since 2003, said Rob Cahalan, Veterans Club president.

Flags will be set-up in front of the UC on Sunday, Nov. 6 and will be taken down the following Saturday, Cahalan said. Throughout the week, donations will be accepted for the care package drive. On Wednesday, Nov. 9, there will be two times for documentary viewings with a panel of veterans following, open to the public, in the UC.

On Friday, Nov. 11, Veterans Day, there is the Remembrance Day National Roll Call. Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) started this and around 200 schools nation-wide are participating, Cahalan said. The 6,000 and some names will be read to be honored, according to the EKU website.

This year marked the 10-year anniversary of the Sept. 11 tragedy. All 50 states are participating in the announcing of the casualties of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), according to the EKU website.

There are currently around 500 students on campus who are veterans and approximately 250 of those are using education benefits. The Veteran Services office, located in room 220 of South Hall, offer veteran benefits and certifies benefits.

Approximately 5 percent of all students on campus at UWRF are veterans or dependents of veterans, according to Trevor Daly in the Veteran Services office. Compared to other UW schools, UW-Eau Claire has more students who are veterans than UWRF, but a smaller percentage. Daly said these numbers are from last winter.

The Veterans Club mainly provides an advocacy group for student veterans. The club also participates with homecoming, but mainly acts as a social club. Other groups participating throughout the week of Veterans Day are offices in New Student and Family Programs such as Student Life, Residence Life, Career Services and others, along with the many students helping within all those departments said Nicole Lillis, manager of the veteran program.

Items recommended and requested by troops to be sent are the following: beef jerky, protein bars, cereal bars, gum, Pop Tarts, nuts/trail mix, hygiene products (no liquids), footballs, Gatorade powder/other drink powder, DVDs, coffee, UWRF gear, snacks and playing cards. Cash is also accepted for the mailing costs. Flyers will be posted in the UC with this information. Drop-off locations will be at a table in the UC during the week of Nov. 7-11 or in the Veteran Services office, according to the flyer.