STC commemorates Veterans Day with new veterans center at its Starr County Campus

Throughout history, United States veterans put their dreams on hold to serve their country not knowing if they would ever have the opportunity to pursue those dreams.

When retired U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez addressed a room full of attendees at the South Texas College Starr County campus in honor of Veterans Day, he emphasized those young men and women who answered the call to arms, knowing that tremendous sacrifices had to be made to protect this country and preserve its way of life.

“When generations were called, all veterans knew that it was their duty to serve – and never shied away from that duty, but they faced an equally difficult battle when they returned home,” Sanchez said. “What’s there are the unseen injuries that soldiers incur including PTSD, traumatic brain injuries, suicidal tendencies, drug dependencies, family instability and divorce which all manifest themselves in the aftermath of deployments.”

But now together with South Texas College, Sanchez said there is a concerted effort to begin identifying those who need personal, academic, career or financial assistance before they are overwhelmed.

“Probably the toughest challenge we encounter is getting the veteran to accept and make use of all resources that are available. This is where the ‘foxhole’…can make a huge difference because it is here that the warrior can open up and be themselves,” Sanchez said. “The reintegration road is long with many detours, but with a culture of trust and enduring support from the highest levels of military community and in this environment (and) STC leadership, our veterans will succeed in transitioning to other successful careers.”

STC’s Starr County campus used its Veterans Day ceremony to officially open its “Foxhole” Veterans Support Center with a ribbon cutting and resource expo.

The campus first opened its Veterans Support Center in 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and was unable to celebrate its grand opening, now, two years later, the center was officially introduced to the community as a place for Veteran support and resources.

Starr County campus Administrator Arturo Montiel, Ph.D., was event emcee along with the campus’ Student Government Association and remarks by STC trustee Rose Benavidez and President Ricardo J. Solis, Ph.D.

Solis offered his own tribute to members of his family who served in the Armed Forces including his father who, even though was born in Mexico, defended the United States in World War II.

“Although my father was from Mexico, he volunteered to serve in World War II and to be a part of this nation. He was an engineer and because he was bilingual, he was tasked to go to Germany to do reconnaissance and surveying to set up the landing strips that brought our men and women and ammunition that finalized the war,” Solis said. “That was a very proud moment for my father, to be able to be a part of that and to close that war. This demonstrates how all of us have links not only here but in Mexico where our roots are. There are great people who have come here to be a part of this remarkable country. Now as part of South Texas College, we are very excited to commemorate and honor all of our veterans.”

STC honors Veterans Day annually with a ceremony that includes an invocation, tribute to veterans and fallen soldiers. The college along with the Office of Student Veterans Affairs are dedicated to serving veterans, active military, reservists, spouses and dependents in meeting their educational goals.

Jorge Valdez, 33, a student veteran who served in the Army from 2014 to 2018 said he was deployed twice; first to the Middle East and then served in a rotation to Europe. Now studying Biology with the hopes of one day entering veterinary school, Valdez recalls the challenge of coming back to school in the spring of 2022.

“Meeting and hearing from General Sanchez was a dream for me and his message resonated a lot for me because I did experience my own hardships first as a soldier and now as a student,” Valdez said. “I am still encouraged to push forward and keep going…little things will change your life, but you must take it with the good and the bad. For veterans I would advise them to use the benefits they have earned.”

For the last six consecutive years, STC has received a Military Friendly School Gold Award, and was awarded recently for the first time as a Military Friendly Spouse School.

The Military Friendly rating is awarded by VIQTORY, a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business, and measures an organization’s commitment, effort and success in creating sustainable and meaningful opportunity for the military community.

For more information about veterans’ services at STC please visit  www.southtexascollege.edu/veterans/.