Guest Opinion | Dr. José A. Gómez: Honoring Our Veterans at Pasadena City College

On Thursday, Nov. 9, we honored our student, faculty, and staff veterans at Pasadena City College and all who have served in the military during a wonderful Veterans Day ceremony hosted by the Veterans Club and the Veterans Resource Center at the Memorial Wall on our campus. On Friday, we will close the college in observance of Veterans Day. 

As we commemorate this holiday, it is an important moment to reflect and express our gratitude for the dedication and sacrifices that our Lancer veterans have made on behalf of our country. The veterans who are a part of our PCC community are nothing short of remarkable. 

I encourage you to take some time this month to visit the Shatford Library Rotunda at PCC to learn more about the members of the PCC community who made the decision to serve. The Veterans Resource Center has curated an incredible collection of images, artifacts, and stories to honor and recognize the veterans in our community, and to allow us to better understand their diverse experiences in the military. 

What struck me most after visiting the exhibit, and seeing the faces and reading the stories about our veterans, was their dedication, their grit, and their perseverance. Their military branch, length of service, and future goals varied, but they all demonstrated a commitment to making life better for themselves, their families, and their communities. 

On behalf of PCC, I want to share a message of gratitude with all of our students, faculty, and staff who either served in the military or have loved ones who have served:

We can never thank you enough for the sacrifices that you have made for all of us. And we are so grateful that you made the decision to join our Lancer family, and to spend your next chapter teaching, working, or learning at PCC. Your dedication, ingenuity, resourcefulness, courage, and commitment to selfless service make our college a better place. 

In fact, we are celebrating Veterans Day this year the same week that we learned some really wonderful news. For the 11th year in a row, PCC has been recognized by the Military Times for being the best college for veterans in the state of California. This remarkable achievement is a testament to the tireless efforts of our Veterans Resource Center, led by Director Carol Calandra and her extraordinary team. 

The work of our Veterans Resource Center, and the support of the entire PCC community, provides a welcoming and enriching environment for our student veterans to succeed and thrive. I don’t think it’s too bold of me to say that PCC is the best place in the country for military veterans to learn, to work, and to achieve their educational and professional dreams. 

So, this Veterans Day, I want to reaffirm PCC’s commitment to our veterans. Thank you for answering the call to service on behalf of your country and all of us. We are eternally grateful. 

José A. Gómez, Ph.D., is interim superintendent-president of Pasadena City College.