Taps rang through campus Friday during the annual Veterans Day wreath laying ceremony honoring veterans from TCU and the community.

Veterans said of all the events on campus last week, the ceremony was the most special.
Air Force veteran Richard Lundy said he was honored when asked to participate.

“Recognizing the sacrifices that not only my generation has made but many before us,” he said. “People of my father’s era, World War II, Grandad, World War I and all the veterans who have served before that and since.”

TCU student and veteran Landon Woods said for him Veterans Day is important because it lets him know students who can’t relate to serving in the military appreciate what he’s done.

“I’ve been in combat, my friends and I were there and we’ve lost friends and a lot of people haven’t experienced that, so it’s a good time to sit and reflect on service and on the sacrifices our comrades made,” he said.

But this support hasn’t always welcomed veterans home.

Senior ROTC Cadet Kevin Frey, who comes from a military family, said attitudes towards veterans have drastically changed over the years, which is why Veterans Day celebrations carry so much significance.

“To make sure nothing like the late 70’s early 80’s; all the backlash against Vietnam vets, nothing like that happens ever again,” he said. “To know that we’re here to support them and that we appreciate what they do.”

There are more than 350 student veterans at TCU. The Veterans Services Task Force, with both veteran and non-veteran TCU students and staff — honors Veterans Day every year. This year events extended throughout the week.

Veterans hope that by having these activities on campus, TCU will one-day host Veterans Day celebrations for Fort Worth.