TSTC hosts Veterans Day ceremony

(WACO, Texas) – Texas State Technical College held a Veterans Day ceremony on Friday, Nov. 10, at the Col. James T. Connally Aerospace Center on the Waco campus.

The event began with the posting of the colors by the La Vega High School Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps, and the reading of a White House proclamation declaring Saturday, Nov. 11, as Veterans Day.

Texas Rep. Hugh D. Shine, R-Belton, was scheduled to speak at the event. But due to the state House of Representatives’ special session in Austin, he instead sent video remarks. He talked about the history of Veterans Day and how those who served in the U.S. military should be celebrated and honored. 

Shine, who himself is an Army colonel with six years on active duty and 24 years as a member of the Texas Army National Guard, said veterans continue to serve in jobs throughout their communities.

Aaron Beem, a TSTC enrollment coach working with the Electrical Construction and Solar Energy Technology programs, spent eight years in the Army.

“I always support veterans,” he said. “I’ve lost brothers-in-arms over the years, and any way to honor them is good.”

Jeremy Nava, of Waco, and Jonathan Summers, of Woodway, are both fourth-semester Precision Machining Technology students.

Nava said the event was a way to enable veterans on campus to feel supported and not left out.

Nava had another reason to observe Friday because it was the 248th birthday of the Marine Corps, of which he was a member for six years.

Summers spent seven years in the Army.

“I think anytime you can honor veterans is great,” he said. “People don’t know what we went through. But people want to give their appreciation.”

For more information on TSTC, go to tstc.edu.