ASHLAND — Veterans Day brought together Ashland University’s college Republicans, Democrats and the brothers of Kappa Sigma fraternity to honor the sacrifices of service members.
A Monday evening event served as the first of its kind for the university. It wrapped a full day of celebrations for Ashland-area veterans.
Kayin McDonald, a representative from Kappa Sigma, offered comments about the fraternity’s philanthropy.
He shared how the fraternity has worked to honor veterans. This year, it’s raising funds to help homeless veterans in the area through an initiative called “A Mile in a Soldier’s Shoes.”
Representatives from the university’s Republican and Democratic groups also spoke at the event, along with a keynote speaker.
AU’s president, Jon Parrish Peede, offered the event’s keynote address. He shared that he’s worked with veterans repeatedly, including serving on the board of the Veterans History Project in the Library of Congress.
Peede spoke about the theme of resilience, a quality he said all veterans share.
“As a nation, we have turned again and again to our most resilient citizens — which is to say, our troops — to secure our rights,” Peede said. “This is not a new thing. In an effort to bring about an even better society, we often speak about our rights, as we should.”
Peede related his comments to the lessons AU teaches impart about inalienable rights. The school’s ability to teach about those rights — and individuals’ ability to practice them — wouldn’t exist without somebody defending them.
That idea goes all the way back to America’s founding fathers. They were flawed, Peede said. But, they also had an ability to self-correct. That’s a key part of resiliency.
He shared a historical anecdote, about early soldiers advocating for their back pay to the Continental Congress. Peede quoted General Henry Knox, who “considered the reputation of the American army as one of the most immaculate things on earth.”
Peede said Congress compensated the troops after the country won its independence. But the more important part: even in the nation’s earliest days, its ideals and aspirations were set high.
“What makes our nation great is that we’re resilient, that we move forward, that we have had progress,” Peede said.
He ended his comments with a call to adhere to the nation’s founding values, and for the protection of democracy — something soldiers fight for each day.
