Every year on November 11, we celebrate as a nation to honor those who have served in the military. Veterans Day is a holiday meant to bring citizens together with ceremonies, parades and moments to reflect on all that veterans have given us. But, here at James Madison University, it’s just another day of classes. While other universities and work places close, JMU sticks to its usual scheduling, which I find to be absolutely ridiculous. This decision raises a lot of questions about what it means to honor service, encourage civic engagement and make everyone feel seen and respected.
By keeping a normal schedule on veterans day, JMU gives the message that they don’t see this day as important when it very much is an important day. Along with the fact that JMU keeps the schedule normal on this day, they also do not talk about veterans whatsoever. On 11/11 my classes were carried on like they do every other day when I was hoping they would at least talk about what civic responsibility really means and or discuss how the military fits into the bigger picture of government and society. Learning about these topics in school might push us to think more critically about what it means to be a good citizen and how we can actively support and understand our veterans.
I have a family full of veterans and not having a break for Veterans day really causes me to feel like JMU is just brushing past an important moment to recognize the sacrifices that were made by these veterans, specifically ROTC Students, faculty and alumni who have served for us. For veterans on campus, the lack of a university wide observance can feel like a missed opportunity to be acknowledged and represented. While looking at this in a feminist perspective, it’s worth noting that when we don’t openly honor or include certain groups, we risk making people feel like they don’t belong or aren’t valued
A feminist perspective encourages us to think beyond just “veterans” as a group and instead recognize the diverse backgrounds within it, such as; gender, race, socioeconomics and more. Different people bring different experiences to the military service, and that includes female veterans, veterans of color, LGBTQ+ veterans and veterans from lower-income backgrounds, all of whom might face their own set of challenges both in and out of service. The goal of a feminist dialogue is to be inclusive and make sure that everyone feels like they are being seen and matter. In the context of Veterans day I feel that it’s extremely important to think about how we can make veterans from all different ways of life feel seen and valued on the JMU campus.
To add to that feminist standpoint, i feel that its extremely crucial to recognize the challenges veterans face after service. For example, female veterans may have harder times accessing specific types of healthcare. JMU could be using this day to raise awareness about these issues which would make honoring veterans day just a tad more meaningful. This would also align with feminist goals of addressing inequality and advocating for fair treatment and support for everyone.
In the end, Veterans day at JMU could be more than just a day on the calendar. Whether it’s through class discussions, campus events or even just taking a few moments to reflect. We could really think about how we can show appreciation for veterans and make our campus more inclusive. By doing this, we can work towards a community that truly honors veterans and engages with the values that veterans day represents.
#jmu #veterans #military