Last Monday, November 10, GRCC celebrated Veteran's Day by holding its annual Dog Tag Day event. On Dog Tag Day Green River Community College rallies around and honors those who served in the United States military. The event is put on by the Veteran’s Council. Now in its 10th year, Dog Tag Day got its start because Educational Planner and Navy veteran, Jon Arnhold, was concerned that Veteran’s Day would fall into obscurity.

“My numbers may be a little off, but 100 percent of the American people on campus have a link to the military,” he said. “I was upset that there wasn’t anything on campus for Veteran’s Day, so I sent out an all-campus e-mail. I said, ‘If you’ve got dog tags or anything military-related, wear them on Friday." The e-mails I got back were… it’s like an emotional nerve was struck. I knew we had to continue this.”

This year’s event commenced with Taps, the military bugle call traditionally sounded at funerals, wreath-laying and memorial services. After Taps was played, those in attendance filed in to the Gator Grille for a helping of the standard-issue military breakfast food, SOS. During breakfast, veterans, dependants of veterans and well-wishers reminisced about the military.

“It’s good to share history and connect with other people,” said Human Resources’ Manager of Recruitment and Data Systems, Kelly Blackwood. Kelly wears her dad’s dog tags in honor of his service along with one of her own that she picked up at a Dog Tag Day ceremony a few years back. “My dad was in the Army for 20 years,” she said. “He died 10 years ago around Thanksgiving. This is always an emotional time for me.”

Though the Veteran’s Council opted not to rent a dog tag machine this year, there were paper dog tags available for people to fill out in remembrance of those who fought and died in our nation’s wars.

Following breakfast, the colors were posted, the Pledge of Allegiance recited and the National Anthem sung.

Michael Harris, another Navy veteran and the administrative assistant for the director of Enrollment Services, acted as the master of ceremonies and photographer for the event. He spoke about his own time in the Navy before publicly recognizing those at Green River with ties to the military.

Afterwards, Alex Silva, a Retirement Services Officer from Fort Lewis, spoke about how the military prepared him for his future endeavors, as well as his time in the military.

Other speakers included: Marine recruiters, Fred Creek and Ron Riley.

At 10 a.m., the Dog Tag Day concluded with final Taps and a retiring of the flag.