McKenna Howenstine|Marlin Chronicle
The event featured VWU graduate Bobby Mazenko
World War I officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919 in the Palace of Versailles. According to the US Department of Veterans Day Affairs, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on Nov. 11.
Veterans Day is observed on Nov. 11. The US Department of Veterans Day Affairs describes the purpose of it as, “A celebration to honor America’s veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.”
On Monday, Nov. 11 Virginia Wesleyan celebrated Veterans Day. The ceremony was held in Greer at 12 p.m. Garret Wood was the opening speaker and he reflected on the sacrifices and contributions of those who have and who are currently serving our country.
Wood also emphasized the importance of Veterans Day as a time to express gratitude for men and women who have defended freedoms and embodied patriotism. Wood also introduced the new addition to the military affairs of the ROTC program at Virginia Wesleyan.
Garret Wood was a Surface Warfare Officer in the Navy. He was deployed to Iraq coastal waters and briefly to Afghanistan while attached to a unit of Marines.
McKenna Howenstine|Marlin Chronicle
“This is both a place for people to be trained to lead in the military, and a place where their service can be rewarded through education,” Wood said, reflecting on Veterans Day’s connection to Virginia Wesleyan.
President Miller shared a quote from Barack Obama about the importance of this day as a whole: “We don’t mark this day each year as a celebration of victory. As proud of that victory as we are, we mark this day as a celebration of those who made victory possible. It’s a day that we keep in our minds the brave men and women of this nation, generations of them who, above all else, believed in and fought for a set of ideas.”
Bobby Mazenko was the keynote speaker at the ceremony, he is a First Lieutenant, and graduated from Virginia Wesleyan in 2021, where he was a two time captain of the lacrosse team and an active member of the Student Government Association. Mazenko was also a member of the Army ROTC, beginning his military career.
Mazenko showed his appreciation by honoring the sacrifices that the former veterans have provided. He reflected on the true meaning of sacrifice and service, highlighting the unimaginable challenges that are faced by veterans and the sacrifices they have to make for their families.
Mazenko joined the military shortly after graduation. “I was commissioned into the Army Reserve as an aviation officer. Shortly after commissioning, I attended army flight school, where I earned my wings in 2023, and I am currently a CH-47 Chinook helicopter pilot,” Mazenko said.
Mazenko went into detail about the difficulties with being moved around from station to station and even state to state. He said, “a new duty station every three years where families are uprooted and moved thousands of miles away, 30 day field training exercise with no communication to family. Or sudden job change that is based on needs of the military.
“Next time you see a camouflage vest at Lowe’s, a license plate that says disabled veteran or a baseball cap littered with pings of previous units that say Vietnam veteran, I challenge you all to stop and reflect on yourself of service to our country, to those who have served,” Mafrienzenko said.
Mazenko ended his speech by asking people to reflect on the value of the community, safety and truth that veterans could bring. He talked about his belief in the importance of supporting veterans, their families and recognizing their sacrifices.
By Brady King
bpking@vwu.edu
