November 11, 2020

Dear CSU Community,

Today, November 11, is Veteran’s Day, and I invite all of you to join me in honoring our military veterans and remembering with love those who have given their lives in service for our country. For me, honoring veterans will mean I’ll be sure to call my parents, both of whom served in the US Army early in their professional lives. For others of you, that may mean reaching out to family and friends to tell them you’re thinking of them.

If you have a few minutes this week, check out some of the wonderful resources available from our Adult Learner and Veteran Services, including a message from Director Marc Barker available as both a letter and a video. As Marc notes, at the very core of our success is our greater campus community believing in and demonstrating the value that student veterans bring to CSU.

I know that you all believe in our student veterans, and I can think of no greater ambassador for them than Director Barker, who stepped up in March of this year to co-chair our Pandemic Preparedness Team. Marc brings his extensive experience and expertise in military organization and leadership to this incredibly important work, along with his cool under pressure and his tremendous compassion. And I know he would say that say that in doing this he is merely embodying the work ethic and commitment shared by so many veterans, including our students.

To every member of our community who has served or is serving our country as a member of a branch of the US Armed Forces: thank you for your service and for demonstrating selfless commitment to a larger cause in all that you do. We value and appreciate you, not just today but every day.

Warmly,

Joyce McConnell