Honoring Our Veterans
November 13, 2009They stand out at graduation every year: a handful of Hamilton students dressed in military uniform, preparing to enter a world profoundly different from the one we occupy here at the College on a Hill. What truly separates these students from their peers is not their attire, but their patriotism. Having just celebrated (or, more likely, overlooked) Veteran's Day, it is apropos to look at what the Hamilton community does to support American veterans. After all, Alexander Hamilton himself was a veteran.
The College recently announced its aspirations to join its many peers participating in the Yellow Ribbon Program. This branch of the G.I. Bill provides federal aid to make elite private higher education, like Hamilton, accessible to veterans and their families. Partnering with the government to provide financial aid to veterans would be a meaningful way to express our appreciation of just how much these individuals have given us – a value not easily quantified.
We are proud to attend a college that is willing to so clearly demonstrated its patriotism and support for the veterans that have protected our country. However, this patriotism should not be left at the door. For all our activism and support for various groups and causes, the issues facing our own nation are often lost in the shuffle. The 9/11 memorial service attracted far fewer community members than events such as the 24-Hour Film Festival and The Female Orgasm, which were filled to capacity. We do not provide these examples to demean other events; however, it is important to keep in mind why we are able to enjoy such luxuries.
Patriotism is not reflected in wearing a trendy Obama t-shirt. To be truly patriotic is to be an active, educated citizen and to participate in a representative democracy. The College's participation in the Yellow Ribbon Program sends the message that the Hamilton College administration supports veterans.
We commend the College for expressing its gratitude and support in this manner. What can we do as students to lend the same support? Through debates, lectures and voter-registration drives, partisan and non-partisan organizations alike offer the chance to increase both active participation in government and to further students' knowledge of domestic and global issues. Staying informed is essential to political awareness. Not everyone needs to join the armed forces, but we can all contribute to the nation that has shaped us nto who we are.