By Daria Munroe, Staff Writer
On Nov. 6, Saint Leo University held a Veterans Day Opening Ceremony, and everyone who attended paused to honor the men and women who have dedicated their lives to something greater than themselves: a service to our nation. The spirit of honor filled the Student Community Center as students, faculty, and community members gathered to celebrate those who have served.
Veterans’ courage and sacrifice remind us that freedom is never free; instead, it is earned and protected through selfless acts of bravery and by those who choose duty over comfort and resilience over fear. Among these were veterans who stood tall and proud, whose journeys stand as powerful examples of what it truly means to serve with courage and purpose.
An honored speaker and Veteran, Lieutenant Colonel Anthony J. Pinto is a retired U.S Air Force Senior Section Commander at Tinker Air Force Base. He served overseas assignments in South Korea, Germany, Alaska, Iraq, and Syria.
Col. Pinto thanked the great men and women who took an oath to serve this country and their home, and he recognized the combat veterans who survived.
“Those veterans who were in the field taking and returning fire; those veterans who were in harm’s way, I want to say thank you to those first. You are the one we see in the movies; you may be the reason your comrade is here today, and we celebrate you,” Pinto said.
Pinto also thanked the friends and family members for their appreciation of the great heroes. It matters to him that every veteran who served faithfully is recognized, even those who often go unnoticed.
“See the veteran, in the back; they can run, all day, all night, to the sun, and back again,” Pinto says repeatedly throughout his speech. This message shows respect for the ability to persevere through long, demanding challenges that veterans face, even when under pressure. This saying reflects how those in the military often possess a quiet strength of working hard without seeking recognition, of supporting others, and of pushing beyond limits most people never encounter.
A veteran group named the Chaplain Corps, Pinto expressed his deepest gratitude to them; they were the priest-administrators who joined the military to serve the war fighters. “Your contribution to our help while deploying is valuable,” Pinto said.
Col. Pinto explains that deployment life is different than normal life; he elaborates that one of the things he would do is go to confession. When he got discharged, he explained it was one of his most violent ones. His priest from Nigeria said something to him that he would carry with him for the rest of his life.
“It was good that you prayed for them because they, too, were born in the image and likeness of God, and they deserve your prayers,” the priest says.
When he left his cargo, all Pinto could think of was his family holding and kissing them. But in reality, not all veterans get that welcome home experience. Many veterans return home without a family waiting for them. Recognizing that not every veteran receives a warm welcome home highlights that their strength lies not only in what they endured during service, but also in how they continue forward with dignity, humility, and a perseverance that reflects deep honor and respect.
During this event, Matthew DeBord, President of the Saint Leo Student Veterans of America FIU Chapter, spoke with honor and sincerity that reflected both his military experience and his commitment to guiding the next generation of soldiers.
When asked what he would say to someone considering joining the military, he emphasized the importance of courage and being a role model to his peers.
“It takes real willingness to stand for something so much bigger than yourself, and to carry the responsibility of representing and protecting your country,” DeBord said.
In the end, being a veteran represents a commitment to service far beyond deployment; it reflects the willingness of these brave soldiers to accept responsibility, endure hardship, and stand against a defense to shape the nation.
Veterans carry experiences that can change how they see the world and guide and inspire others to make a change in it. Remember that their sacrifices create the freedom and stability most of us depend on, even when we don’t notice it. Their service stands as a living example of duty, honor, resilience, and commitment to something greater than oneself.
