Student Veterans of America, a student group at Eastern Michigan University, placed 227 yellow ribbons around campus on Thursday to honor Michigan service members who were killed in action from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
John Thomas was in the Army from 1967-76 and lectures at EMU’s College of Technology. As a sergeant, he completed two combat tours in Vietnam with the billet of infantry platoon leader. He said it is imperative to remember the ultimate sacrifice many Americans have paid while serving their country during times of war.
“It’s a day to remember those we lost,” Thomas said. “Memorial Day is for those that did not come back.”
He has a son and daughter who both graduated from the United States Naval Academy and they are currently serving in the Navy. His father served 37 years in the Navy as well.
Thomas made $214 per month when he was enlisted, and homesickness was common while he was deployed, he said.
“I missed my mother, I missed my sisters, I missed my family,” he said. “But, I was one of the lucky ones, I came back.”
Each ribbon has a fallen service member’s name, picture, hometown, age and branch of service. Around a dozen SVA members helped place the ribbons while it was raining and unseasonably cold.
EMU junior Sean Stevens served in the Army for five years as a light vehicle mechanic and helped hang the ribbons on trees. He deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, and said most Americans do not take the importance of Memorial Day seriously.
“I think it is an overlooked holiday,” Stevens said. “They think of it as a day to barbecue and not a day of remembrance.”
Lauren Newsted, Stevens’ girlfriend and a graduate from EMU also helped place the ribbons around campus.
“It’s important as a civilian to show the veterans that we do care,” she said.
Memorial Day was declared a national holiday by an act of Congress in 1971, but it originated after the Civil War and was originally called “Decoration Day.”
EMU has over 500 student veterans enrolled in courses, and junior and SVA president Joshua Curtis said he would like to see more involvement from the veteran community. Curtis served in the Army and worked with intelligence.
“We are just trying to get more people involved so we can have more organized events,” Curtis said.
