By Edna Horton/nw news editor
Veterans were honored by candlelight at a NW Campus dedication Nov. 11.
Cornerstone honor students wanted to carry on the tradition of celebrating Veterans Day. NW student Perla Chavez said last year the tradition stopped, and the students decided to get it started again. The entire dedication was student-led, and the speakers had ties to NW Campus.
The 7th Bomber Wing and 301st Fighter Wing of the Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve presented the colors, which began the dedication.
NW Campus student Jeffery Hampton presented the speakers and explained how Veterans Day began. He said many people view Memorial Day as the official day to pay tribute to members of the armed forces who have given their lives serving their nation. He said Veterans Day, though, should not be forgotten.
“This day, Veterans Day, serves a very important purpose. It is a day we recognize not just those who have given their lives in war but all those who have worn the uniforms of service,” he said.
Elva LeBlanc, NW Campus president, spoke to the audience about the reason for the dedication and welcomed the guest speakers. She explained the important role education plays in democracy. She said the dedication was an example of students taking an interest in the democratic process.
Hampton then introduced his father, also named Jeffery Hampton, who served in the Army for 15 years as an elite member of the White House communication agency. The elder Hampton retired as the rank of sergeant first class promotable, which means he was on the list to become master sergeant before retiring.
The elder Hampton said his team followed the president everywhere he went and set up the communications equipment for him. He served for Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton. He said he was proud to have served and the armed forces had served him as well.
“It taught me great discipline, the value of friendship, the importance of family and how important it is to be a man of character,” he said.
Josh Daugherty is a current TCC student and former U.S. Marine combat engineer who served two seven-month tours in Iraq. During his time in Iraq, he kept a journal where he wrote poems and thoughts of the events occurring to him daily in Fallujah.
His journal became the book The Daily Thoughts of a Fallujah Marine published in October 2008. He said the poem he decided to share, “Walk in These Boots,” gave an insight into what it is really like to be in Fallujah, and he wanted the world to know what it is like there and what it is like to be in the Army.
“Stroll the streets of Fallujah lined with trash. Jumping every time you hear a boom or a crash,” Daugherty said, quoting a line from a poem in his book.
NW Campus student Josh Dees explained the flag folding ceremony. The ceremony is performed when a fallen soldier comes home and the flag is removed from the casket. Each of the 12 folds has a meaning, starting with life and ending with a reminder of the future. At the end of the ceremony, taps is played.
The evening ended with the Cornerstone honor students reading the names of the fallen soldiers off of the Remembrance Wall by candlelight.
Located in the WTLO courtyard, a new portion of the wall was added this semester and includes a steel portrayal of the American flag. The wall was designed by NW students.
