On Wednesday morning, the University of South Carolina hosted the seventh annual Veterans Day Breakfast for local veterans and their families in the Russell House Ballroom.
Those in attendance included veterans from the Columbia area, those affiliated with USC, several ROTC departments and USC's Student Veterans Association. The breakfast has grown significantly since its inception seven years ago. It began as a small gathering of about 40 people and has increased to over 300 attendees.
Derrick Huggins, vice president of Facilities and Transportation, started the event in coordination with the Office of Vehicle Management and Parking Services.
“I have a strong affection for our veterans,” Huggins said. “You just see a lot of veterans that work in the area … and you say … let’s have something for them.”
Each year, the event features a military speaker. This year, the university invited Maj. Gen. Roger Cloutier of the United States Army.
Cloutier looked into the future as well as the past in his speech.
“Today’s about honoring a very special group of Americans,” he said. “It’s a day on which we remember the brave men and women of our nation, and generations of them, who above all else believed in — and fought for — a set of ideas.”
He recounted several stories of the more courageous veterans, including USC’s own Lance Cpl. Kyle Carpenter, who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his selflessness in combat.
“Our veterans chose to serve a cause that was greater than themselves … I myself am especially proud every day to be part of our army,” Cloutier said.
Although Veterans Day is often considered a historic, retrospective holiday, it can also be a day to consider the future. Tobias Brasier, USC Director of Web Services for the School of Law and former armored crewman in the U.S. military, abides by this view.
“I think it’s an opportunity to express to younger people that there are honorable ways to behave, and selfless service, service that might even require laying down your own life, [is] important,” Brasier said.
Cloutier also expressed that Veterans Day is important to current and former soldiers.
“We continue to have young men and women who … swear an oath to defend this idea we call America,” he said. “And I have personally witnessed their courage under fire and can attest that our newest generation [is] as tough, dedicated and courageous in battle as any who have gone before them.”