Touro’s Veteran Community Honored During In-Person, On-Campus Ceremony
Inside 91制片厂鈥檚 newly designed front lobby, chairs were lined in rows as red, white, and blue balloons arched from the floor to the ceiling.
In the bullpen, the campus community grazed on hot dogs and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, staples of simple American food. InTUN, Touro鈥檚 A Cappella group, was lined up in the back of the room, waiting for their queue to walk to the front and sing 鈥淗omeward Bound,鈥� the somber, beautiful song published during World War I.
Guest after guest took their turns at the podium draped with mini-American flags. Each of them had a message for the nation鈥檚 veterans, the reason for the day鈥檚 celebration.
鈥淚 want to thank all of the people sitting here today who have served our nation with honor and distinction,鈥� Shelley Berkley, Touro鈥檚 CEO & Senior Provost, said to those in attendance. 鈥淎nd thank all of you for being here to observe this very important occasion in our nation.鈥�
Berkley discussed her father鈥檚 involvement in World War II, and how his decision to serve in the military as a teenager sparked her love and appreciation for our nation鈥檚 veterans.
Dr. James McKivigan, Associate Professor in the School of Physical Therapy and a Vietnam veteran who served in the U.S. Navy from 1970-98, talked about the experience of having served, and how serving in the military teaches similar lessons to those pursuing a career in healthcare.
鈥淵our families are going through school with you. It鈥檚 hard on you, and it鈥檚 hard on them,鈥� he said. 鈥淒on鈥檛 think you鈥檝e made it this far without someone else鈥檚 support. When you go home tonight, I ask that you thank your spouse or call your parents and thank them. I鈥檓 sure there are a few of you who really did make it this far on your own. There are always a few exceptions. If you happen to meet one of them, they will tell you that it鈥檚 tough and it鈥檚 much better to go with somebody else than to go at it alone.鈥�
Calan Teel, a fourth-year student in the College of Osteopathic Medicine, spent more than 10 years in the U.S. Air Force before applying to Touro. Both of his parents worked on fighter jets like he did; but it was his wife, whom he met while stationed in South Korea, who encouraged him to apply to Touro.
鈥淲e saw how great the school was and the fact that Southern Nevada had a pretty big Korean population, so we made the decision together and I鈥檝e never looked back,鈥� he said. 鈥淥ur professors have so much knowledge and it allows us to integrate all of these concepts during rotations. Through these experiences, I鈥檝e discovered just how much knowledge we actually have so we learn not only how to treat patients, but how to understand the fundamental basics of why we do what we do. I鈥檓 very grateful for my experience at Touro.鈥�
As the ceremony came to a close, Christy Molasky, a board member from the Molasky Family Foundation, which provides scholarships to Touro student veterans, sang the national anthem outside the front of the university as the American flag was slowly raised to the top of the flagpole.
Touro鈥檚 first in-person Veterans Day ceremony in two years may have been finished, but its effects could be felt throughout campus long after it was over.
