Around the school there are many clubs organized by students and one of these clubs that exists here is the Supporting Veterans and Military Club. The Wire met with Rachel Bearce, a senior who is majoring in business administration, and asked her about what the Support Club is and what is the mission and purpose of it. Bearce is a veteran who helped create the club and is working to spread the message around the Culver-Stockton and Canton community.
The Supporting Veterans and Military Club was organized for all students to come and help support local veterans in the community, recognize them, connect, and share stories about their experiences for their service. Bearce herself had spoken how it had taken her a few years to accept that she herself was a veteran as she had not believed what she had done deserved being called one. She was injured during basic training and could not serve her country. It was not until she had spoken to a few people who had said she was a veteran as she had signed the discharge papers even though she disagreed with them until she had eventually accepted that she was and wanted to help others like her to recognize that they are veterans too.
As a veteran herself, she wanted to do something where other veterans who were like her, also recognized they are veterans too. What the club does is have meetings usually on Tuesdays or Thursdays in Johann room 216 here on campus. They also do buddy checks, help with chores, house work, and visit veterans who might not be able to do it alone. “We are few but mighty” Bearce said referring to members of the Supporting Veterans and Military Club.
Just last year a few of the fraternities had gotten together to send care packages for a student who had been deployed. The Supporting Veterans and Military Club wants to do more things like this for other veterans and active duty members who might need help; or send them a care package showing that the community appreciates them and their services.
Another way to help support veterans is the American Legion which also works to support veterans in the area. They will host a soup dinner in the American Legion here in Canton this September during the Art Walk and Freedom Dogs on Homecoming.
If anyone has any questions or would like to join the Supporting Veterans and Military Club or American Legion, you can contact Rachel Bearce, at reb592@culver.edu for any more information.
