A man stands on stage next to several flags.
Military & Veteran Services hosted a Veterans Day Ceremony to honor all veterans for their service. The ceremony included various ensemble pieces and a Toast to the Flag by LCDR Jack Goldenberg, United States Navy, retired.

Saluting service: AU hosts Veterans Day celebration 

honored its military community with a Veterans Day celebration on Monday, Nov. 11, paying tribute to veterans for their service and sacrifice.  

“While Memorial Day is the day to remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of our country, Veterans Day is for all who have served,” said , EdD, director of AU’s .  

Military and Veteran Services partnered with the for several musical tributes. The collaborated with , DMA, on a powerful arrangement of “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” , DMA, performed “Taps” and the ensemble premiered a newly arranged “Camp Hancock March,” composed in tribute to a military installation just outside of Augusta toward the end of World War I.  

Each arrangement carried a special meaning. “You’ll Never Walk Alone” emphasized the importance of a support system, a message Raulerson noted is especially relevant for the military community, where asking for help can be difficult. She hoped the event conveyed AU’s commitment to guiding, engaging and investing in military students’ academic success and well-being.  

“Institutionally, Veterans Day is an opportunity for us to tip our hats to these students, faculty, staff and community members whose journey to higher education was different than most,” said Raulerson. “The service and sacrifice during their active duty or reserve status provided them with leadership skills, resiliency, a world view and other traits that positively impact their lives.”  

The event also included President and Maj. Gen. William Rajczak, who served as deputy director for Joint Capability Development in the U.S. Joint Forces Command in Norfolk, Virginia.  

During the Veteran Pin Ceremony, Keen asked veterans to proudly wear their pin around campus. 

“It’s not just on Veterans Day that we should say those five words, ‘Thank you for your service,’” said Keen. “By donning those pins, it signifies that you are among the very best that this country has. You should wear that pin with such pride because of your sacrifices, and I want to thank you for your service and sacrifice for our great nation.”  

A woman in a military uniform posed in front of a flag.
Tasha Barber

Tasha Barber, a fourth-year undergraduate student majoring in , served in the from 2008 to 2010 in the reserves and from 2010 to 2013 on active duty. To her, veterans bring a valuable perspective to the campus as many veterans retain the mindset of “once a soldier, always a soldier” long after their time in uniform ends.   

“That mentality is not something that goes away; it’s something that is a part of our core and being,” said Barber. “Serving in the military is not something that everybody can do, so getting that recognition of going above and beyond in the call of duty is serious.”  

Zachary Hulsey, a fourth-year undergraduate student majoring in and , is a veteran who has pursued a nontraditional path to higher education. While also balancing his career in the , where he has been serving since 2016, he is also active in AU’s student organizations including AU’s chapter of and the Collegiate National Association for Music Education.   

A man in uniform is behind the wheel of a vehicle.
Zachary Hulsey

He finds himself lucky to be a part of a community where veterans can be found in fellow students, professors, staff, doctors, nurses and support staff.   

“It still feels a bit awkward when people say, ‘Thank you for your service,’ but that’s really one of the simplest ways to recognize veterans,” said Hulsey. “Although, I believe that the best way to recognize veterans is to volunteer. We have a veteran’s nursing home here in town, and that’s a great way for service-oriented individuals or groups to connect with veterans to just visit, chat or play games.”  

To stay updated on military-related events, follow Military & Veteran Services on Instagram or join the AU chapter of Students Veterans of America or the . Everyone is welcome to join; you just need a passion for serving those who have served us. 

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Written by
Jamison Guice

Jamison Guice is a communications strategist at . You can reach her at jguice@augusta.edu or (706) 737-1411.

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