Veterans’ importance exceeds the battlefield: they bring a variety of experience, skills, and resilience to their communities and workforce, social studies teacher Daniel Hicks said.Because of their sacrifices, honoring the men and women who served our country is integral, he explained.

Hicks is a proud veteran who served in the army for four years after enlisting in 1983. Hicks had served in the E4 division, stationed in Germany. Hicks joined the military in hopes of learning discipline and funding his education.

“I was driving in Jackson, Tennessee and I saw a big sign that said, ‘[United States] Army: Be All You Can Be,” Hicks said. “I said, ‘Alright, I’m just gonna pull in and see what happens.’ [After] talking with [this man], I said, ‘I’m going to do this.’”

While in the First Infantry Division, Hick’s job was to be out front with the Fourth Battalion, Fifth Field Artillery calling coordinates to the back of the unit to direct where the round of fire should go.

“When you see a round come in from way back, you can’t even see [who shot it],” Hicks said. “All of a sudden that round lands exactly where you want it and this tank blows up off the ground. It’s this incredible sense of power knowing that you made a difference because that tank, [is] not going to harm anyone on my side.”

After returning home from his service, Hicks’ understanding of Veterans Day took on a new meaning. Veterans Day symbolizes the need to acknowledge the sacrifice taken by people who heard the call and stepped up to protect our freedom, he added.

“If we don’t get [Veterans Day] off here, I’ll take the day off,” Hicks said. “It’s because I want to take that moment and think about both my own service that I contributed   to our nation. But more importantly,  I think about all the people who served wherever they served and whatever they did, and how we as a nation cannot be free, without people who are willing to make that sacrifice.”

Being in the military is more than a sacrifice, Administrative Assistant Diana Starcevich explained. While in the military from 1983 to 1986, stationed in Fort Gordon, Georgia, Starcevich’s daily job was repairing equipment, where she learned core values and skills that she uses throughout her life such as physical fitness, teamwork, and organizational skills.

“One of my goals for working [at South] is doing my best to resolve any issues that arise and if they are too much for me, I will ask for help or if I can be of any help to others,” Starcevich said.

Surrounded by a family of veterans, Starcevich observes Veterans’ Day by congratulating them.

“[On Veterans’ Day], I look back and I’m proud of what I’ve done,” Starcevich said. “I was happy to serve and I have a lot of family that served so I think about them: my father, brother, sister and her son, my husband’s siblings.”

To those planning on joining the military, both Hicks and Starcevich believe it is a decision you will not regret. There is no greater honor than fighting for our country, Hicks said.

“It is the people who put that uniform on and the people who are willing to say ‘I will stand up for the principles that we believe in’ [that deserve recognition],” Hicks said.