On Tuesday, November 11, the Military and Veterans Club [MVC] helped celebrate Veterans Week, which is from November 9 through November 11, by hosting a Veterans Day Ceremony. It was a great way to honor the veterans who have served our country, especially those who gave their lives in the line of duty.Not only should we honor our veterans on Veterans day, but we should also express gratitude to the veterans we see on a daily basis. At Kean University, there are about 200 veterans and military reserves, and about 28 of them are a part of the MVC. The club is a great way for Kean University to recognize those who have served in the United States [U.S.] military.
The MVC was first started in 2011 when “the first executive board was composed of dedicated veterans and extraordinary Kean University students, some of which are now alumni of Kean University,” comments the club’s advisor, Lilliam Banner. The current board members of the club show dedication to not only their school work, but also serving their country as well, especially Clara Garcia.
Clara Garcia, President of the MVC and sophomore at Kean University, is a reservist for the Navy. She served in Afghanistan in 2013 and is now in the process of earning her degree in communications, but hopes to get a degree in health communications. “I would like to work in a veteran hospital after I graduate.” comments Garcia. Garcia is the first in her family to serve for the United States Navy, and is one of the few females that are members of the U.S. Navy. When asked about being a woman in the Navy, her response was about the uniform that has to be worn: “[some] of the things that I have hated were the bullet proof vests and the holsters; those two [uniform assets] are not female friendly.” Garcia also comments on her time in Afghanistan, “Your life is always at risk…you have to walk around with a weapon at all times, which is very different from what I am used to when I am home. But I do get a lot of veteran benefits,” benefits people cannot get anywhere else.
Being a part of the Navy is not easy, but neither is getting an education while maintaining a high position in a club. As the president of the MVC, Garcia helps with completing the mission of the club, which is to help “…new students who are veterans or reservists transition into college,” says Vice President and junior psychology major, Dionicio Estrella. “We basically have our own little community to rely on,” Estrella continues, who is also an army reserve. Estrella continues to say that the club “…is not only for veterans. We are trying to do more with the community, and not segregate ourselves from the students and faculty of the Kean [University] community.”
The students who are a part of the MVC and have served for our country should be as proud of themselves as we are of them. Banner comments on how “it has been an honor to work with a group of students that have a strong sense of community service, dedication to their education, and are always ready to serve this country.”
Below are the officers of the MVC, along with Garcia being president and Estrella being Vice president:
Director of Public relations: Benjamin Little
Secretary: Aaron Faria
Assistant Secretary: Sulenny Rodriguez
Treasurer: Tonimarie Giordano
