Students Place Flags on Old Main Lawn to Recognize Veterans

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Students place flags on the lawn of Old Main during the week of Veterans' Day.

On Wednesday, Nov. 13 Razorback Student Veterans and Residents' Interhall Congress placed flags in the ground in front of Old Main. The groups used it as a time of reflection and serenity. There were five sets of flags with eighty flags in each set and one flag in front. It is to symbolize five platoons standing in front of the flag pole. Each platoon represented the five Congressional Medal of Honor recipients who have attended the University of Arkansas. The groups planted these flags to celebrate veterans who have gone to this university as well as veterans that students at this university know.

"For me planting flags shows that people at the University of Arkansas really care about the men and women who have served in the military and those who are serving now," said Katherine Petit, a sophomore from Silverton, Ore., majoring in social work.

It is common for people to think about Veterans Celebration Week as only thinking about those who have died in combat, but the week is really about celebrating all veterans and their experiences and hardships. It is a day to reflect for all those who have served, not only those who have died.

"Planting flags is a good way to remind people that Veterans Day celebrates those service members still with us today," said Taylor Weeks a senior from Greenland, Ark., majoring in English.

The Veterans Resource and Information Center, RSV and RIC all worked extremely hard to try and make Veterans Celebration Week a success.