On Veterans Day, Skyline held an event on campus to honor veterans who have served in the armed forces.
The Veterans Club, in association with ASSC, sponsored an event called Operation Remembrance, where those in attendance commemorated veterans in the Skyline community.
The event was held in the cafeteria, lasting from 11:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Students were welcome to sit, listen, and partake in free food and beverages from the refreshment table. One table was reserved by two officials, one from the Employment Development Department (EDD), and another from the Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery Center (PRRC).
During the event students sat and listened while official speakers talked about the importance of this day, and what it meant for veterans and non-veterans alike.
Silvia Martinez, a veteran services official, was asked to speak since she helps certify veteran students at Skyline so that they receive their educational benefits.
“Today we are celebrating and honoring our veteran students at Skyline College,” Martinez said. “It’s important for everyone to recognize [them]. I take honor and pride in certifying our veterans so they get all the benefits that they deserve, and earned while serving America.”
Another Skyline official who spoke was Adolfo Leiva, a program services coordinator at Spark Point Center, who wanted to express how this day was also for providing others with additional information about services available here on campus.
“We are talking about the various services the Spark Point Center has to offer our veterans,” Leiva said. “We [also] have EDD on campus, and they provide a range of services that help veterans receive the benefits they’re entitled to.”
According to Leiva (as well as several other speakers at the event) EDD is a department that helps veterans access certain services and benefits. If veterans are trying to find jobs, apply for loans and scholarships, or get access to placement/work force services, the EDD helps them achieve their academic goals.
The EDD sets up their services in our Veteran’s Center once a week. This is the first semester that EDD is offering their help to the public.
One EDD official named Johnnie Stanton, a local veteran’s workforce specialist, was present at the event to create awareness as to how they strive to help veterans at Skyline, and in general.
“EDD is the Employment Development Department, and we essentially do outreach and support to veterans, specifically in regard to job search, education, and health issues,” Stanton said.
According to Stanton, the EDD covers San Francisco and San Mateo County. They are currently located in San Carlos. In addition, they are also working with City College of San Francisco and also starting outreach in the University of Phoenix and University of San Francisco .
“We do have outreach here at Skyline College […] and it’s really starting to take shape,” Stanton said. “The support from Skyline College has been absolutely incredible, and the veterans here are very fortunate to have this kind of support.”
Sitting next to Johnnie Stanton during the event was Dan Evenhouse, a director of community based services for the PRRC, who came to the event to also let people be aware of the efforts his organization does for veterans.
“We offer classes to people who have mental health issues and are trying to reintegrate into the community,” Evenhouse said.
This hands-on approach is an idea that Stanton feels is essential in assisting veterans.
“The [Department of Veteran Affairs] can’t be sitting on a hill somewhere by itself. [It] needs to be involved with people where they’re at,” Evenhouse said. “Whether veterans are in school, or getting back in the workforce, they’re doing a lot of different things in their communities and the VA is trying to help them integrate.”
Although the president of the Veterans club, Jarom Vahai, couldn’t make it to the event, Vice President Ben Nievera took his place to speak on behalf of the club. Although at first he felt nervous about speaking, he did feel he got the point across as to what this event was all about.
“This is a remembrance for all the veterans either back home or still serving in Iraq or Afghanistan,” Nievera said. “We are here to show people that there are veterans out there who need our support.”
Nievera also expressed how happy he was about the turnout, stating that even though this is done every year, this is the first time it’s been done on this grand of a scale.
Nievera wanted to stress that this was not a recruiting service but an event to honor veterans here at Skyline and non-Skyline veterans as well. However, at one point during his speech, he did feel it necessary to remind students attending that anyone who took a slice of pizza from the refreshments table just willingly enlisted in the armed forces.
On that note he added “at least [they] will get a free hair cut.”
