Cedars, December 2018

December 2018 8 OFF CAMPUS Honoring Our Heroes by Kassie Kirsch T he National Veterans Memorial and Museum opened in Columbus on Oct. 27. Built to stand out, the me- morial and museum is circular, with long ramps leading to the front entrance and an- other long ramp leading down from the last exhibit. The white concrete and bright blue glass windows of the structure offset clearly against the colorful landscaping. More powerful than the sight of the structure, though, is what it represents. The National Veterans Memorial and Museum is the first of its kind in that it represents ev- ery branch of the military. Inside, the struc- ture communicates the personal stories of service members and their families. According to Pew Research Center, the United States is home to over 20million vet- erans, 865,000 of which reside in the state of Ohio alone. Cedarville University hosts more than 30 veterans and reserve service men and women. U.S. News and World Re- port ranks Cedarville as the top midwestern college for veterans to attend. Still, according to senior journalism major Keegan D’Alfonso, a Marine Corps veteran who served from 2009 to 2014, the adjustment to student life after serving in the military is challenging at times. “It’s a very different culture here than the rest of the world, and the military world especially,” D’Alfonso said. “People are a little bit more naive, a little bit more shel- tered here, and so sometimes that leads to frustrations. People will make statements or express opinions that they kind of have no business having.” Jonathan Adams, a pharmacy student and current Marine Reserve member, had a similar perspective. “It’s challenging — it’s not just being at Cedarville, but for any reservist, really: balancing. … Cedarville is a completely dif- ferent environment than the Marines, and trying to stay the same person and maintain a testimony … not alienating yourself in ei- ther setting.” Photo by Kassie Kirsch Photos of veterans hang from the ceiling of the museum corridor, guiding visitors to the main displays. Columbus opens new National Veterans Memorial and Museum