Celebrating Veterans 2020

Bradley Kelly is your typical full-time college student at Washburn University.  He goes to class, works, and spends his days with his wife of 7 years, Helen, their two children, Jake, 5, and Avery, 2, and dog, Tita.  Kelly is typical to every other student on campus with one major exception, Kelly spent a majority of his adulthood serving in the United States Army.  Serving as an acti...

Jacob Cross, a 24-year old veteran of the United States Marine Corps and a criminal justice major at Washburn University, enjoyed doing all the “cool things” during his service, like shooting the big guns, riding in helicopters and blowing things up, during his enlistment, but at the end of it all, he feels his biggest accomplishment lies in the men he was responsible for.  “What I’m mos...

At age 5, Andrew Kaufman wandered Worlds of Fun alone. He was not lost, but rather, looking for a friend. Unannounced to his parents, he slipped off to recount his adventures to whoever caught his eye. On that sweltering summer day, it was the older gentleman who had just sat down to catch his breath. Kaufman made his way over and sat right down. Before the gentleman had the chance to speak, Kaufma...

Ruben Maravilla is not ready to step away from the men and women who have become an important part of his life.  "I get excited for drill. Not for the work, but for the people and friends I see once a month," said Maravilla, who says the experiences of living and eating together has formed a lasting bond. "This is a bond that is earned. Something only we understand. I’m not willing to give tha...

Sometimes students find themselves questioning where college might take them. After spending two years at Kansas State University, Spencer Mitchell was trying to figure out what his next move should be. A calling to serve a greater purpose during his time away from college lead him to enlist in the United States Army. The experience allowed Mitchell, a former Army sergeant, to traveled the world...

"Guard zealously your right to serve in the Armed Forces, for without them, there will be no other rights to guard." - President John F. Kennedy These words were spoken a long time ago in very different times than the ones we live in now. Despite this gap in decades, however, there is still great potency in the words of Kennedy. Such a statement defines the premise for our gratitude to all our arme...