By Laura de Leon
Soldiers in sharply pressed uniforms, city leaders in hardhats and student leaders gathered together Nov. 3 to celebrate the groundbreaking ceremony for this growing university’s two new buildings — Central Academic Building and Patriots’ Casa.
The day’s events, held in partnership with the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce in their Celebrating America’s Military events, signaled to San Antonio how the university plans to grow and maintain its relationship to military members, veterans and their families with the building of Patriots’ Casa.
A two-mile Freedom Walk commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War and those who served was the finale to the day-long festivities.
Richard Box, chairman of the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents, said in a keynote address that the university expects to be the second largest university in the system. He said this event is very historic for A&M-San Antonio and is a respected recognition for the military service represented.
“It honors our heroes and it advances the legacy of Texas A&M military service,” Box said. “Patriots’ Casa will be a constant reminder of the price paid by our heroes.”
The Patriots’ Casa will be a two-story, 20,000 square-foot building and will offer services to ease transition into higher education and into the civilian workforce. Charles Rodriguez, chief of staff and vice president for strategic planning and military affairs, said the design plan is inspired by the architecture and functionality of the Warrior and Family Support Center at Fort Sam Houston.
The four-story Central Academic Building will be a multi purpose building for classrooms and student services.The buildings, scheduled to open in fall 2014, are funded with a part of the $75 million permanent university fund the A&M-System approved for the two new buildings as reported in The Mesquite Sept. 13.
Rodriguez said Patriots’ Casa will offer counseling services and certificate training classes. He said any student will be eligible for the training, but they will pick courses based on what veterans care about and what the industry says is important.
“The services we provide here go above and beyond what most universities are doing for their military community,” Richard Delgado Jr., manager of military relations, said.
The services are what these men and women need to come home to because of what they’re going through while fighting for our freedoms, he said.
Military veterans make up more than 10 percent of the student body and is expected to grow. Current enrollment at the university is approximately 4,100 students. The campus is projected to grow between 23,000-25,000 students by 2025.
Texas A&M-San Antonio’s veteran assistant programs have broad support from The Texas A&M University System, which has a long standing tradition to serve veterans and their families. This legacy goes back to when Texas A&M was founded as a land grant college in 1876, according to the system website.
As well, A&M-San Antonio is supported by a large flagship campus and other members who have models for taking care of veterans after returning from service.
Rodriguez said A&M-San Antonio has trademarked the phrase “Military Embracing,” and the Saluting America’s Heroes was an event to expose the university and its dedication to helping members of the armed forces in their transition to academic life.
“How we would like to be connected with the military is to be a natural partner and transit point, especially for them who are coming back to a university,” Rodriguez said.
University breaks ground
Bulldozers have been leveling the construction site for several weeks but were calm on Saturday as community leaders celebrated the groundbreaking, shovels in hand.
The event brought out A&M-System representatives, public officials, students, faculty, staff, community members, veterans and military members from every branch.
“This is a big military day and week, so we are just happy to have them (military affiliates) here,” Provost Brent Snow said.
The university’s military collaboration is a win-win for everybody concerned, he added. “It couldn’t be better. It is such a good relationship,” Snow said.
With the different financial entitlements the military has to offer, Rodriguez said the university wants those who have that opportunity to know that A&M-San Antonio is here, affordable and “genuinely committed to them.”
A full day of entertainment surrounded groundbreaking events. Military and police recruiters gave demonstrations and information about their duties. Supporters, such as Chick-fil-A franchise operators Jennifer and Don Spice, were present raising money for military and veteran-based organizations. Ten percent of Chick-fil-A’s sales from the event will benefit the Wounded Warrior Project.
“Without our military we wouldn’t have a safe country,” Don said.
Lt. Col. David Guarriello, professor of military science at St. Mary’s University, said St. Mary’s Reserve Officer Training Corps has an affiliation with A&M-San Antonio.
Rodriguez said with fewer full ROTC scholarships and more partial scholarships available, students are more cautious of how they spend their money. As a public university, tuition at A&M-San Antonio is about $23,000 less a year than private universities like St. Mary’s.
A&M-San Antonio currently has six cadets in the ROTC program, two seniors and four juniors. All four juniors contracted on Saturday, committing that they will one-day be a military lieutenant.
Guarriello said Karina Acosta will be the first lieutenant in the history of A&M-San Antonio. She will be commissioned Dec. 14 and graduate Dec. 18.
He said A&M-San Antonio’s involvement with the military is outstanding and unique, adding that the university is making veteran services a priority.
“It’s remarkable that Texas A&M-San Antonio has such a commitment to their military embracing theme,” Guarriello said. The addition of the Patriots’ Casa, he said, is “a testament to their commitment to the military.”
Freedom night walk honors veterans
A cool breeze blew across the open fields surrounding University Way as a group of people prepared to embark on the two-mile nighttime Freedom Walk in honor of the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War.
Participants walked up University Way toward the tower at the Loop 410 entrance with flashing light sticks. They completed to the two mile walk by returning down the same route to Main Campus Building.
The San Antonio Pipes and Drums played traditional bagpipe music as they guided walkers up the first part of the walk.
Although the walk was to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War, it was also to get people out and walking, Rodriguez said.
Hilda Saavedra contributed to this story.
