Veterans Resource Center hosts events to honor veterans

November 7, 2016

Jimmy Guevara, a Marine Veteran, embracing CSUN faculty after the “Joining Forces” Veteran Ally Workshop on Monday, November 7th. Guevara is a Senior here at CSUN, studying Psychology and Central American Studies.

The Veteran Resource Center is honoring and bringing awareness about our veterans all week long.

Manny Garcia, a 28-year-old Marine Corp Reserve Veteran, is the student administrative assistant who coordinated the event that took place this past weekend.

On Sunday, the Veterans Resource Center and Sigma Tau Alpha joined together to raise money for the Soldiers Project.

“Soldiers Project provides assistance both to Los Angeles and the valley to service members who have served to student’s veterans that need assistance with mental health, there’s always a place that they can get help for free,” Garcia said.

The event on Sunday helped raised more than $1,200. There were more than 79 people who registered and 40 people showed up, according to Garcia.

The weeklong events show students the resources they have on campus for veterans, people who are active and others who want to learn more about them.

“[The Veterans Ally Workshop] teaches people who are not military affiliated an introduction to military culture, different aspects that service men and women have gone through and their experiences. Teaching them how to interact with a student veteran,” said Garcia.

The workshop will be on Monday and Wednesay, while on Tuesday the Veterans Resource Center will host an open house.

This open house is for people who want to get to know more about what is going on and learn from the veterans.

Thursday will be the block party where they will have food, games, giveaways and music. There will be military equipment and night vision goggles. The students will be able to try on their equipment.

“We will have a map so student veterans can come and post where they have been stationed,” Garcia said.

Students also will be able to write letters through operation gratitude.

Nov. 11, is completely voluntarily because the campus is closed, but a group of them will meet for a parade at the V.A. Medical Center in Brentwood.

Sunday 11/6

Fun Run and Flag Garden

Sigma Tau Alpha 5k Fun Run

Sunday: Check in at 7 a.m. / Plaza del Sol, USU

U.S. Flag Garden Placement

Sunday: 10 a.m. – Noon / Oviatt Lawn

Monday 11/7 & Wednesday 11/9

Joining Forces: Veteran Ally Workshop

Mon: 2:30 – 4:30 p.m. / Altadena Room, USU