Nicole Johnson

The Quad at Sacramento City College was occupied Nov. 10 with approximately 350 students and faculty as guest speakers approach the stage to show their support and appreciation for the U.S military.

U.S Army veteran Kim Mack, served 3 years as a military police officer. She addressed the crowd by telling a personal story of the importance of veteran’s day.

“Service comes in all forms,” said Mack. “Service comes in many different ways. Today we honor our veterans and our people currently serving. Our young men and women who are putting their life on the line in Afghanistan and Iraq so you can go to school here, and get a job in a field that you want to work in.”

According to Mack, for over 200 years, the veterans have been making sure that Americans have the freedoms that to be enjoy in this country.

“Nobody has freedoms like we have,” said Mack. “You look at Egypt and what’s going on in the Middle East and look at what they’re going through. They want what we have. They’re risking their lives to get what we have.”

While honoring the veterans, Mack said to honor the parents.

“Our pain is real too,” says Mack. “Our support for our children is strong, and it hurts. Not even some of my closest friends would ask me how I was doing when my son was in a combat zone.”

District nine-assembly member Roger Dickinson, advocate for the dream act as well as the importance of education for students spoke from another perspective.

“You have a right to ask for whatever grieves you to be addressed by to that we elect to be in public office to serve us,” said Dickinson. “It is important that we remember those things that we often take for granted and don’t reflect on the fact that they truly have been purchased for over 200 years with the blood of our fellow Americans.”

There are thousands of American servicemen and women deployed around the world, said Dickinson. They defend the freedoms that Americans cherish and stand up for those that don’t have the capacity to defend themselves.

In response to the overall outcome of the event, Vets Club President Zach Pierce wasn’t impressed with the student turnout.

“I think that we did an OK  job for the event being on such short notice,” said Pierce. “I wish that more students would get involved. I hope they understand why this sort of event is important. I’d like them to get a glimpse of the military culture.”