The Skyhawk Veterans Association (SVA) hosted their Veterans Day Exposition Friday, Nov. 9 in Watkins Auditorium, honoring all veterans in the Martin community.
A tribute to each branch’s hymn was played at the opening of the ceremony, before the introduction of Alice-Catherine Carls, professor of history and philosophy who gave a presentation on the beginning of Veterans Day and World War I.
Nov. 11, 2018 celebrated the 100 year anniversary of the end of World War I.
“This year we remember and honor the sacrifice to the cause of peace, democracy and freedom,” Carls said.
Tennessee State Representative of District 77 Bill Sanderson, an advocate for veteran’s rights, addressed the crowd concerning the ways Tennessee is continuing to serve veterans.
His proudest accomplishment was the development of the Gold Star Family Memorial Highway which runs from Memphis to Nashville. Establishing this highway was an emotional process for all parties involved.
“Mothers and fathers came in to my office and we sat and we talked and I’m telling you… It was sobering,” Sanderson said. “We wanted something that would make an impact.”
One year later through the work of numerous Gold Star families, Sanderson and the House of Representatives passed a bill dedicating Highway 70 to the Gold Star Families, which includes a sign entering and exiting every county along the way.
“We were on the house floor and beside me dressed in white were those ladies and those gentlemen who worked to make it happen,” Sanderson said. “We had a standing ovation and tears flowed throughout the chambers of the House of Representatives as we passed the Gold Star Highway Bill.”
Chris Gunlefinger, assistant director for Student Life and United States Marine Corps veteran, spoke emotionally about his experiences during his time in the Corps and of those around him. Gunlefinger, a UTM alum, served eight years active duty from 2001-09.
“I am a veteran, but I am not a combat veteran. I don’t typically wear my status as a veteran on my sleeve,” Gunlefinger said. “I served yes, but when someone says ‘Thank you for your service,’ I don’t usually know what to say in response.”
Gunlefinger described the difficulties of communicating with veterans and active duty men and women.
“The challenge is to show gratitude to those who wore the uniform, honor the sacrifices of those still wearing it and at the same time, critically debate and ask questions about what we, as a people, ask of our all volunteer force.”
During his speech, Gunlefinger focused on the challenges veterans face on a daily basis due to their service, but also how they continue to face each day through the support of other veterans around them.
“Being a veteran is hard,” Gunlefinger said. “In many ways, being in the military is easy. I made one decision at the age of 20 and it was several years later before I had to make another one,” he continued.
Gunlefinger was an administrative clerk in the USMC and served on military bases all across the world.
“Being a veteran can be hard,” he repeated. “Transitioning can be very difficult.”
Gunlefinger addressed the challenges veterans face while in service and the consequences of those after they leave. Each veteran faces different experiences during their service, but share the same job, he explains.
“Being a veteran means having to reconcile your time in the service for the rest of your life. For combat veterans that can mean having to overcome the challenges of PTSD and traumatic brain injury,” Gunlefinger said. “I had a state job and some pretty easy deployments, but my brother was an infantryman and served two tours in Iraq and Fallujah.”
Gunlefinger recounted a story of the first time he witnessed his brother suffering from PTSD when they were both home on leave. It had gotten too loud at the bar they were in and his brother ran two miles home in the pouring rain before passing out in his childhood bedroom.
“I am not a combat veteran. I am equally eternally grateful and eternally guilty over this fact. On one hand I was fortunate to leave the service without the wounds my brother has suffered from. On the other, I always wonder if I did my fair bid. Did I leave without doing my fair share causing others to have to carry a load that was rightfully mine?”
Statistically, 22 veterans commit suicide every day.
“Being a veteran is hard… We don’t all make it.”
Gunlefinger emotionally explained that he has lost more friends in the years following his service than during.
“Those hurt because we were supposed to be home. We were supposed to be safe. We were supposed to be enjoying life. Being a veteran can be hard.”
“It is an ongoing journey, but most of us will make it… We are able to make it through hard and difficult times knowing that we have made it through worse.”
Gunlefinger has had the opportunity of working with many student veterans on campus and addressed those who are beginning their transition process saying, “I’ve been where you are now and I would be glad to help you along the way of your journey.”
“Being a veteran is hard but we have the support of a grateful nation and fortunately enough for us, brothers and sisters, we have each other. Semper Fildelis,” Gunlefinger said ending his speech of which he received an emotional standing ovation.
Before concluding the ceremony to celebrate the Marine Corps 243rd birthday, the SVA awarded Johnny Dyer, the Veterans Services Coordinator and founding member of the SVA, with a plaque for continued service and dedication to the SVA.
“I appreciate them everyday. They are always there for me and I’ll always be there for them,” Dyer said. “We’re all in it together; it’s all one fight. I don’t do it for any kind of recognition. I do it because someone did it for me.”
To close the ceremony, Sanderson played “Taps” on the trumpet in honor of the servicemen and women who have passed.
