One of the things that brings the United States together is the celebration and honoring of those that currently serve and/or have served in any of the branches of the United States Armed Forces. Although as a nation we strive to honor these American heroes every day, there are a few days during the year that are especially significant. One of those special days is Veterans Day.
Veterans Day is observed each year on November 11th throughout the county. According to the US Department of Veterans Affairs website, Veterans Day was established in 1919 by President Woodrow Wilson after World War I, the “war to end all wars.” As many citizens around the nation did, students and faculty at the Ross Medical Education Center Johnson City, Tennessee campus came together to show their appreciation for those that have served and continue to do so in the Armed Forces. One of the ways that they chose to show their appreciation for friends, family, and loved ones who have served in the military was by placing red poppies throughout the campus. Each of the poppies was labeled with the name of a veteran that was important to a staff member or student.
In addition to this display of appreciation, the Johnson City campus also worked to collect a variety of personal hygiene items throughout the month of November. After collecting items all month, all of the donations were able to be distributed to homeless veterans in the surrounding area by the Appalachian Regional Coalition on Homelessness. The goal of this organization, and the Johnson City campus is to help individuals that have served in the military and who are in the process of re-entering the workforce.
To learn more about Veterans Day, visit the US Department of Veterans Affairs website. To find out more about the Appalachian Regional Coalition on Homelessness and how you can help, visit their website.