Aaron Berkowitz – General Assignment Reporter
It’s like having a job, but you never get to go home and it’s not an eight hour thing, said Hendrik Sorensen, senior accounting major and treasurer for the Veterans’ Association on campus.
Veterans’ Day means something different to each veteran, but it is ultimately an opportunity for people who served together to connect to one another through their experiences.
“I take it as a day to reflect on my service,” said Sorensen.
Sorensen said he’s bummed out that the university doesn’t have the day off from classes and shared some of his experiences while serving 10 years in the army national guard in infantry.
“I did two deployments in Afghanistan,” said Sorensen. “The first one was in 2006 and the second one was back in 2010. Our mission there in our first time was really a security force for people that were rebuilding the country’s infrastructure. We got to see a lot of that stuff firsthand. The building of schools, roads, and just everything that Afghanistan really doesn’t have because there government is pretty much nonexistent. The second tour was more kinetic, we were going out doing missions and chasing bad guys.”
Sorensen said when he came to SCSU he found the Veterans office and he was able to relate more to other veterans than some of the students he interacted with in the classroom.
“I’m in class with a lot of 18 to 20 year olds so at times it can be difficult to find people that I can relate to,” said Sorensen. “It’s cool to see that people like me can also strive. School gets really stressful at times, so to see people who are coming from a similar background doing well is definitely encouraging.”
Jack Mordente, director of the Veterans Office, said the relationships the veteran on campus build through their time in the office is something that he takes pride in.
“We have a drop-in center with five computers, furniture, microwave, television, refrigerator, and it’s really a place for our veterans to come network, bust chops about different branches, and share stories they have,” said Mordente. “It’s really a great resource.”
He also said after returning from his deployment he picked up some new perspective on a healthy work ethic.
“I learned that you just have to do your job and not complain about it,” said Sorensen. “If you don’t do it then no one else is going to do it for you and it won’t get done. You can’t expect a pat on the back everyday for doing what you’re supposed to do.”
Sorensen said the goal for the Veterans Association is to get more participation from its members. According to Mordente, the campus has over 300 veterans, including those who are still active.
“There’s a lot of us, but its not like we are all in a photography club and share that one interest,” said Sorensen.
The club is however having one of their most active semesters to date and have some events look out for, said Sorensen.
According to the Veterans Association web page there will be a ceremony to honor our campus’ vets on Nov. 12 at 1 p.m. in Engleman room B121 for all to come and participate in.
Mordente said those who come will get to hear the stories of multiple vets and their times serving as well as a clarification between Memorial Day and Veterans Day.
He also said number of veterans that colleges are beginning to enroll has been steadily increasing due to them leaving Iraq. He is entering his 40th year working in the office and is excited for what the increase means.
“It will mean that there will be more work for us, but I love what I do,” said Mordente. “When you love what you do for a living it’s not really work at all.”
