Florida State held multiple events and activities to commemorate and celebrate military members and veterans during the month of November. Initiated and planned by the Veterans Student Union, FSU’s Veterans Appreciation Month saluted veterans in general as well as FSU student veterans in particular.

With Veterans Day falling each year on November 11, there have always been events that honor veterans at FSU, but 2019 saw a significant increase in the number of activities and participants. Groups and organizations from throughout campus joined in, with the Veterans Student Union – a permanent agency within Student Government – coordinating these Veterans Appreciation Month initiatives.

The activities kicked off the evening of November 4 on Landis Green where FSU student veterans and ROTC cadets were joined by President John Thrasher for an “unveiling.” A few days later, the Veterans Film Festival screened the gripping documentary “Above the Best,” which was presented by the College of Motion Picture Arts Torchlight Cinematheque. That same week, the Veterans Student Union partnered with Alpha Omicron Pi for a Care Package event, at which gifts and messages were prepared for troops serving overseas.

Despite the university being closed for Veterans Day, the Veterans Student Union participated in a CrossFit Hero Workout to honor service members who died in the line of duty. Later that day, a Fallen Heroes Ceremony was conducted on Mina Jo Powel Alumni Green, where U.S. service members who lost their lives since 9/11 were commemorated with approximately 7,000 American flags on the green, with each flag bearing the name of a fallen service member.

Veterans Appreciation Month also included the military appreciation football game against Alabama State, during which FSU student veterans and ROTC cadets got to participate in an on-field recognition. The morning of the following day, the annual John Tinsley Memorial 5K took place (Tinsley was an FSU ROTC graduate who was killed in action in 2009 in Afghanistan), and that afternoon the FSU volleyball team honored veterans during its match against North Carolina.

“Our student veterans were grateful for the numerous student organizations that sponsored or partnered in these Veterans Appreciation Month activities,” said Billy Francis, director of the FSU Student Veterans Center. “And they were genuinely humbled by the countless members the general student body who participated in these events.”

To stay updated with what is going on at the Student Veterans Center, make sure to follow its Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.