Veterans bring military camaraderie, tradition to PVCC event

By Janice Semmel, December 2011
Copy Editor

The Paradise Valley Community College Veterans Association enjoyed a busy month of November as it brought the military to campus during its Veterans Day weeklong celebration.

Photo by Janice Semmel

The youngest Marine, Paul Zellner, and the oldest Marine, Fabian Garcia, cut the cake celebrating the 236th birthday of the U.S. Marines with the traditional sword as PVCC Veterans Association members, students, faculty and administration watch on Nov.10.

Club members went all out to bring in military recruiters and personnel from the U.S. Army and the U.S. Air Force, representatives from Disabled American Veterans and the Patriot Guard Riders, information from USAA and games, prizes and events to make it a fun celebration for everyone.

Phi Theta Kappa sold troop support wristbands during the four days. Nancy McNeill, PVCC veterans certifying official and a U.S. Air Force veteran, supplied free lemonade and ice tea for everyone and the Marine Corps birthday cake.

Patriot Guard Riders

Tip Combs and veteran Mark Hill came to PVCC Monday, Nov. 7, to share their experiences as Patriot Guard Riders.

At 251,000 members nationwide and with about 3,500 registered Arizona members, Combs says, “We are basically a group of citizens. Most are military personnel veterans, some are not.”

He said PGR attaches no fees or dues to membership, and they welcome everyone.

The PGR performs three types of missions, which include burial tributes, welcome home parties and send off parties. If necessary, members shield grieving families from protest groups by using nonviolent methods like holding flags and making noise.

“It’s all about honor and respect, nothing more,” says Combs.

For more information on PGR, please visit http://www.standtallstandproud.org/.

Native American Students Association

The Native American Students Association spent the entire week at the Veterans Day celebration.

Each day NASA displayed photos and information of Native American contributions for that military branch.

Luke Air Force Base Representatives

Photo by Janice Semmel

A Luke Air Force Base airman leaves the Student Center with the Explosive Ordinance Disposal robot after U.S. Air Force Day at PVCC.

On Wednesday, Nov. 9, representatives from Luke Air Force Base arrived on campus with their Explosive Ordinance Disposal robot in tow as well as a 60 pound bomb suit and other military gear.

Master Sgt. Stephen Hunter, a part of the Luke Air Force Base U.S. Air Force Reserve bomb squad and a member of the U.S. Air Force for eight years, said, “This (the robot) is basically a stateside asset that we use to protect Luke Air Force Base.

“We try to do everything remotely with robots or hook and line kit with ropes, anything not to expose ourselves to an explosive device,” he said. “Putting on the bomb suit and having to go up to an item is our last resort.”

The airmen put the approximately $150,000 EOD robot through its paces, so everyone saw its capabilities. Airmen also helped students don the bomb suit to get an up close and personal idea of the feeling.

PVCC student Josh Naboure, who wore the top part of the suit and the helmet, said it was very hot, and he couldn’t imagine wearing it in the Iraq heat.

Marine Corps Birthday Ceremony

On Thursday, Nov. 10, the Marine Corps celebrated its 236th birthday. The Veterans Association held a traditional Marine cake cutting ceremony to honor the Marines.

Courtney Etsitty, Marine veteran, Veterans Association and NASA member and PVCC student, read the Marine Corps ceremony. She spoke of the tradition attached to the ceremony, the use of a sword to cut the cake, and she read, “This ceremony will take place in combat zones, on ships and bases all around the world, thereby revealing our unity as Marines to all who attend.”

As Fabian Garcia, the oldest Marine and a PVCC student and Veterans Association member, cut the cake with the help of the youngest Marine, Paul Zellner, also a PVCC student, Etsitty said the guest of honor, Dr. Sandra Miller Holst, vice president of Student Affairs, receives the first piece of cake.

“This is truly an honor for me,” said Miller Holst. “I really do appreciate it. And if some of you don’t know, I do have a son who is a Marine, who was trained at Fort LeJeune, so I just have to say one thing, ‘Ooh-rah.’ Congratulations and thank you so much for serving our country and our nation and all of its citizens. We appreciate everything that you’ve done for us.”

The second piece of cake goes to the oldest Marine, and he passes it to the youngest Marine, “signifying the passing of experience and knowledge from the old to the young of our Corps,” reads Etsitty.

Garcia says, “I celebrate the Marine Corps birthday more than I do my own.Historically Marines have all been big on tradition. The cake cutting ceremony is one of them, and I think it shows, like the narrator said, that passing knowledge and experience from old to young to keep the Corps the same as it was in 1775. Once a Marine. Always a Marine. No ex Marines. Only former Marines.”

Zellner, the youngest Marine and a new student this semester at PVCC says, “The Marine Corps birthday is something that’s celebrated every year. Last year, I was in Afghanistan during this, and it meant just as much to us there as it did today. Tradition for us will never change.”

Marine Toys for Tots

During the first week in December, a donation box supplied by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program will be located in the KSC Building near Student Life. The program collects donations of new, unwrapped toys and books to give to needy children in the community for Christmas.