WATERBURY, Conn. – To commemorate Veterans Day, Naugatuck Valley Community College hosted two days of events to honor past and present members of the military.

Veterans Day Ceremony
NVCC students, faculty and staff gathered on November 11 for the College’s seventh annual Veterans Day Ceremony. It is a day to honor sacrifice, said NVCC President Daisy Cocco De Filippis, Ph.D. “That so many are so willing to give again and again and again, so that we can all be here, in a land of peace, in a land where education changes lives like mine, in a land where folks are welcome. That’s the United States I love … there’s no better place to be a woman than the United States … You go as far as you can, in terms of educating yourself and moving forward,” she said. “Today, we recognize the sacrifices of so many—so many who work here, so many who study here, so many who are throughout the United States.”

NVCC student and Newman Club President Anna Marie Verdosci led the group in “The Star-Spangled Banner” and NVCC Provost and Senior Dean of Administration James Troup led the group in the singing of “America the Beautiful.”

“We’ve given up our lives to ensure this country stays free,” said Pastor Daniel Lee Edwards Sr., a 2004 NVCC alumnus and veteran of the first Gulf War who served in the U.S. Army from 1989 and 1993.

“When I first joined the Army, I was only thinking about providing for my family, but by the time I got out and came home, I realized I was not only providing for my family, but I was providing protection and security for our whole country,” said Edwards. “Every day in my heart is Veterans Day because I understand that there are others that are still fighting the battle for me, and I salute them.”

The audience also heard thoughts and reflections on the day from NVCC Veterans Club President Jim Rizzio and NVCC Facilities Superintendent, Pastor Leon Luciano.

The ceremony concluded with the dedication of a wreath, a moment of silence and the playing of taps by bugler James Turek.

Rep. Esty Visits Campus to Meet with NVCC Veterans
In advance of Veterans Day, U.S. Rep. Elizabeth Esty (CT-5) visited with veterans from the NVCC community on November 10 at the College’s Veterans Oasis. The meeting served as a brainstorming session about how to better engage local veterans and ensure that they are aware of the benefits available to them, which can range from free college tuition to health care to counseling.

“How can we get the word out?” asked Rep. Esty. “Not as many veterans as we want know about the benefits available to them.”

Even though the College has resources available to help, some veterans simply don’t have the time to investigate benefits, according to NVCC Veterans Club President Jim Rizzio. “A lot of people who go to this school who are vets work full time … they get out of work and they know exactly where their class is, and they go, and then they leave [campus] and start all over again the next day.”

“One of the other things we’re trying to do—especially for the community colleges—is get word out in the community that you can come and start a degree, finish a degree or get a certification … and there are some special things for you as a veteran if you decide to do that,” said Rep. Esty.

Some steps that could help to inform veterans of the benefits to which they’re entitled include reaching out to family members of veterans to help educate them about benefits, and checking in with veterans—perhaps six months or a year after they’ve returned home—to give them a time to readjust.

Representatives from the College’s VetNet team were also present at the event with Rep. Esty to assist those who served our country in accessing veteran benefits, including benefits for higher education under the GI Bill. In addition, a representative from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs was available to assist those who served in Iraq and Afghanistan in signing up for the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry.

Burn pits are areas on military bases where waste, such as tires, plastics, batteries, electronic equipment, human waste and other garbage, is incinerated and toxic fumes are released into the atmosphere. Rep. Esty convened a roundtable discussion at the College in May 2015 to discuss health effects from the pits—an issue many consider the Agent Orange of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

As a Veteran-friendly Campus, NVCC has a VetNet team ready to support veterans with questions regarding their benefits, assist in the VA application process and provide a simple path to becoming a student at NVCC. The College also offers the Veterans Oasis, a dedicated space on campus where veterans can meet, study, network and share experiences.