Saluting service: AU hosts Veterans Day celebration 

Augusta University 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 Stefane Raulerson, EdD, director of AU’s Office of Military and Veteran Services.  

Military and Veteran Services partnered with the Grover C. Maxwell Performing Arts Theatre for several musical tributes. The AU Wind Ensemble collaborated with Courtney Kalbacker, DMA, on a powerful arrangement of “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” Anthony Kirkland, 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 Russell T. Keen 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.”  

Tasha Barber, a fourth-year undergraduate student majoring in business administration, served in the United States Army 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 music education and history, is a veteran who has pursued a nontraditional path to higher education. While also balancing his career in the United States Air Force, where he has been serving since 2016, he is also active in AU’s student organizations including AU’s chapter of Student Veterans of America and the Collegiate National Association for Music Education.   

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 @aug_mvs or join the AU chapter of Students Veterans of America or the Gold Star Family Organization. Everyone is welcome to join; you just need a passion for serving those who have served us.