North Alabama community college honors local veterans
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — Calhoun Community College wanted to honor its student veterans and those in the community who have served.
The school hosted a Veterans Day Observance at its Huntsville campus on Thursday. Calhoun faculty said the college is working to assist students with their GI Bills and make them feel welcome.
Wreaths for Veterans getting ready for annual wreath placement day in Huntsville
"Today is just going to be an opportunity to celebrate and honor those who serve because of them we have the freedoms that we have today," said Calhoun Vice President of Student Services Kassie Mathis.
Some faculty members have themselves served, and they understand the significance of others' sacrifices.
"Not many other institutions will do this, but it just set precedence of what the veteran population, especially in Huntsville, Madison and Athens, that all come to Calhoun as students to be represented by the college themselves," said veteran and faculty member Karen Chockley.
Thursday's program highlighted the distinguished service of a female veteran.
"I had the fortunate misfortune to be able to lead soldiers into combat on two occasions into Desert Storm and into Afghanistan," said retired Command Sgt. Maj. Angel Clark.
Clark's 33-year career in the army also included deployments to Iraq, Egypt, Romania and Bulgaria. Clark said that during her career she was often the first woman to serve in her assignments.
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She now volunteers with nonprofits that support veterans.
"We stand where we are because of the service and sacrifices of others that someone right now is out there so far away from home and making sacrifices in places that we may not even be aware of just because they were called to serve," Clark said. "So, I would just ask that we keep those people in our prayers, their family in our prayers."
Clark said sacrifice is a part of service in the military. She asks that we remember to support veterans, not just this week, but all year.
