Rio Hondo continued its six-year-long tradition of hosting a Veterans Day Celebration on Nov. 11 in the Lower Quad.

The Veterans Club which has been at Rio since 2007 gave out 250 free hot dogs, chips and drinks to students who were interested.

The event also included a large “Wall of Heroes” in which students and staff could place photos of family and friends who currently are or were in the military.

Robert Diaz is the president of the Veterans Club and has currently held the position for two years. He played a large part in forming all of the events the Veterans Club puts on such as the Comedy Night and the Marine Corps Birthday.

“All of the [events during Veterans Week] are so that the college community can get together with veterans,” stated Diaz.

The goal of the day was to give a warm ‘thank you’ to all military veterans for their service and promote a friendly atmosphere for students to enjoy themselves.

Commemorative coins and small American flags were sold during the event as well. Many students chose to place their flags in the ground in front of the flagpoles and memorial in the Lower Quad. To know to install a flag you can see here.

Diaz, a Vietnam veteran, said that the funds made off of the commemorative coins and flags are to go to the Veterans of Foreign Wars organization as well as Los Amigos which is making Thanksgiving baskets for needy veterans during the holidays.

“We like to give back,” he said.

Rio Hondo student Sergio Ortiz was one of many who came for the food and music.

When asked if he was a veteran or had family members in the service he said “No, I would not go into the military. I respect people who do, but I personally feel I would not be able to do what they do. It’s impressive what [military personnel] they do- way beyond me.”

Jesse Hernandez served in the army and stated that while there was a large student turnout for the event, he believes it was the free food that mostly attracted people and not patriotism.

“But I guess that’s not the point,” he said. “It’s a bigger ‘thank you’ just to see people doing anything they want- living their life any way they want.”

Whether students understood it or not, just being able to get free food at school and listen to catchy tunes is a validation of the uncountable numbers of personal sacrifices and service Americans have given in the history of the country.