Editorial: Monument deserves support

April 23, 2009 by Editorial staff 

Student organization exhibits dedication for worthy cause

It’s about time.

Nevada is home to Nellis Air Force Base, one of the largest air force bases in the country. More than 339,000 veterans call Nevada home, two-thirds of which live in Southern Nevada. Here at UNLV, 430 students receive benefits from the GI Bill, with perhaps dozens more eligible but not taking advantage of the financial help.

For a region with such a sizeable community of veterans and military, Southern Nevada is shockingly behind on honoring these individuals for their service. While Boulder City and Henderson both have veterans monuments, Las Vegas lacks one… for now.

A new UNLV club, the Student Veterans Organization, is trying to change that.

The student organization has proposed building a veterans monument to honor the men and women who have protected and served our country. The memorial would be well deserved and serve as a great reminder of the men and women who have put their lives on the line to serve and protect the citizens of this country.

Such a message crosses political boundaries and should be universally supported. In February, CSUN Senate approved $2,000 to fund the monument. Since then, the proposed monument has gone into the university administration for approval by committees to determine where the best location would be (SVO proposes near the Carlson Education Building) and what an appropriate monument would look like. While, given the strong emotions many individuals have about the military and government at large, such a monument might easily get lost in bureaucratic red tape. However, this project is an important one. It should not be forgotten; its message is too important.

Equally as important is the amazing progress that the students of SVO have made in such a short amount of time. The organization grew from only 10 members to 103 in only a year. Such growth on an apathetic campus is inspiring and should be applauded.

While 430 students receive benefits of the GI Bill, SVO members recently told The Rebel Yell that they believe the true number of veterans to be around 500. Their active search for other individuals who may benefit from their organization shows a sense of camaraderie that more student groups on campus should have.

It appears one SVO organizer isn’t content with only impacting the lives of his immediate community.

Michael Dakduk, the student veteran who breathed new life into the organization, recently stepped down as president of SVO to serve as vice president of the Student Veterans of America. This move will bring more recognition to the West and Southern Nevada specifically.

Dakduk and his peers should be applauded for their dedication and persistence toward their cause. UNLV should recognize this dedication, as well as the dedication of all veterans within the Las Vegas community, and support the veterans monument.