Keith Weisheit, a Vietnam veteran, knows the importance of a day like Veterans Day and ceremonies that honor veterans.

“I am honored when I am in the presence of my fellow veterans,” Weisheit said.

A Veterans Day of Remembrance paused the USI campus Friday with the flags flying at Centennial court, located between the Wright Administration building and the Health Professions Center. Keith Weisheit of Point Man International was the guest speaker, and the USI ROTC cadets presented the flags.

Nationwide, more than 630,000 veterans and their families attend college under the new GI Bill, and USI is home to close to 250 of these veterans.

“Here at USI we strive to welcome new and returning service men and women with open arms, allowing them to provide USI with valuable knowledge that they have gained while serving, here as students and also as coworkers,” said Stephen Rayner, Veterans Support Services associate.

Weisheit spoke about the emotional toll of military service and the support veterans need from not only their families, but their communities, as well. Weisheit said he declared himself a “lucky Vietnam veteran” due to the close and supportive relationship he has with his wife, siblings and children.

“I cannot forget the things that I saw, the things that I heard, the things that I did, the things that were done to me,” Weisheit said. “I have come to believe that I saw too much there and did too much there to ever forget those things.”

Veterans returning home are troubled and need more compassion, Weisheit said. He urges the public to not forget about these individuals.

Major Chris Dalrymple, USI military science associate professor and a veteran, knows it is always important to honor the veterans – the ones that have gone before us and the current veterans – who fight so hard to secure the freedoms and liberties that we have.

While Veterans Day is day to honor veterans, Dalrymple said she wants people to remember the families of military personnel and the families of soldiers who did not come back.

“The families of the ones (who) didn’t come back … because the pain and suffering is all still there and they need to be reminded … they are not forgotten for their sacrifice,” Dalrymple said.