Student Veterans Association honors heroes

The Seward County Community College Student Veterans Association teamed up with Cimarron Valley Veteran & First Responder Services, Seaboard Farms and Great Western Dining to host a Patriot Day event Monday. Speaker Fr. John Hotze of the Wichita Catholic Diocese spoke to a group of more than 50 students and community members about the servant leadership shown by Fr. Emil Kapaun, a highly decorated military chaplain who served in WWII and the Korean War. The 10 a.m. speech was followed by a free barbecue on the north side of the Industrial Technology student union from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Firefighters and other First Responders from Liberal and Seward County joined the group, and hoisted the Stars and Stripes from a fire truck. 

Fr. John Hotze addresses a group of students from SCCC, LHS, and the public at Monday’s Patriot Day event. 

SCCC microbiology instructor and U.S. Army veteran Myron Perry paused to acknowledge the procession of the flag across campus. U.S. Marine Corps PFC Elias Damian of Garden City and SCCC alum returned to campus to help observe Patriot Day. Damian completed the HVAC program and graduated in May 2016. 

SCCC instrumental Music instructor Darin Workman and U.S. Marine Corps PFC Elias Damian of Garden City listen to Hotzke’s presentation. Damian, an SCCC alum, returned to campus to help observe Patriot Day. Damian completed the HVAC program and graduated in May 2016.