Student veterans honored at Veteran’s Day service

Katelyn Boone
Contributing Writer

Paul Galanti’s A-C4 Skyhawk was shot down over Vietnam during his 98th mission on June 17, 1966. He was kept in North Vietnam’s “Hanoi Hilton” complex as a prisoner of war for 2,432 days, until his release in February of 1973.

Galanti, now the commissioner of veteran services for the Commonwealth of Virginia, recounted his experience on Nov. 8 event to commemorate Veteran’s Day on campus and honor those who have served in the country’s armed forces.

In front of a small crowd at the Commons Theater, Galanti recalled the faceless friends that he made in the camp. Prisoners would tap on the walls to communicate with one another. After seven years Galanti said he “knew everything about these men, but did not know their faces.”

Despite the horrific realities of his experiences, Galanti encouraged those assembled to maintain a positive attitude.

“There are the best of times, and there are the worst of times. It all depends on your mental attitude,” said Galanti, whose many decorations after returning from Vietnam include a Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts. “There is no such thing as a bad day when there is a doorknob on the inside.”

Many members of the VCU community listened to Galanti’s positive message, including a number of student veterans, who often have difficulty integrating into campus life after service. After the event, some student veterans discussed ways that civilian students and student groups can help honor and accommodate veterans on campus.

Erik Fast, president of Student Veterans Association at VCU, said that he wants to make short interview videos with student veterans to help others get acclimated to college after serving.

“These videos would highlight what student veterans like about VCU and how VCU has helped them overcome challenges that student veterans face,” Fast said. He added there was not a lot of information easily available about the options for student veterans, and while he’s glad he chose VCU, he wants to help make the decision easier for future students.

This year, VCU was ranked among the top 15 percent of military friendly schools nationwide by Victory Media, a military-geared media group. The group’s website records 800 military or veteran students and 500 military dependants enrolled at the university. On-campus services include VCU Green Zone, a program meant to help train university students, faculty and staff to help student veterans in their transition to a university setting.

Brian Fell is an active member of the Student Veterans Association who served in the U.S. Marine Corps and is now a VCU senior studying Homeland Security. He said veterans don’t always know about the opportunities and groups available to them and the ways they can be connected to the campus.

“Veterans don’t know how to outreach to groups, groups need to reach out to vets,” Fell said.

Brian is also a member of Omega Delta Sigma, a coed fraternity specifically for veterans. According to the fraternity’s website, part of Omega Delta Sigma’s purpose is, “To facilitate the transition from military life to collegiate life for servicemen and women, and to provide them a network of contacts.”

Jonathan Hoggatt is the national vice president of Omega Delta Sigma. He served in the U.S. Army, and is now a VCU senior studying biology with a pre-med concentration. He said that students should be mindful of who they are speaking to and what they are saying since issues may be sensitive topics for veterans.

“(Students should) realize the company they may be in, and even though they have the freedom to say something, doesn’t mean they should,” Hoggatt said. “We have fought for their rights to speak out against the very men that fight and die for that right.”