It’s Veteran’s Day, which means it’s time to take a moment to thank those who have served, are serving or are planning to serve. It’s all too easy to become absorbed in our daily lives safe on Iowa State’s campus, and forget about the current situation in the Middle East and those who are fighting for our freedom. It’s even easier to forget about those who have fought to preserve our rights in past wars.

Gold Star Hall stands as the main entrance to our Memorial Union. It is Iowa State’s tribute to students who have died while serving in World War I, World War II, Vietnam, Korea, Somalia and Iraq. The names of 579 individuals are carved into the limestone hallway — 579 who once walked this same campus and made the ultimate sacrifice so that we could keep walking it.

Hundreds of students pass through Gold Star Hall daily, and even with this permanent fixture to remind us, we forget. We leave on our hats, continue our cell-phone conversations and tread past the names written on the walls. Strangely, we remember to walk around the zodiac in the floor so we won’t fail our next tests, but we can’t give 15 seconds of silence to the students who have fallen for our country. What does this say about our priorities?

Rachel Hecht is a combat medic in the Iowa Army National Guard. She graduated from Iowa State in May 2008. She joined the Army because of family influences and a desire to help the war on terrorism.

“I first became interested in joining the military at a young age because I had a lot of military ties in my family,” Hecht said. “My father was in the Marine Corps in Vietnam, my grandfather was in the Army in World War I and my brother and several cousins are in the Army, Navy, etc.”

Hecht said Iowa State allowed her to be fully involved in the Army while a full-time student. She said she appreciated the support she received from her professors when she had to miss class for her military duties.

“My sophomore year in college, I had to miss the first two weeks of classes due to a four-month-long advanced individual training. I was able to work with my instructors to catch up on everything I missed,” Hecht said.

Hecht encouraged students to be involved in the military if that’s what they want, because the university works hard to make it possible for them to be fully involved in both areas. Hecht said Veteran’s Day is the opportunity to give thanks to individuals who have left their homes and families to serve America across the country and around the world.

“Whether it is wars on the other side of the world or sandbagging in Kingston, Iowa, the military personnel of the United States have always been there, regardless of the time or place. Veteran’s Day is a day for the nation to take a chance to say, ‘Thank you,’ to military personnel for the sacrifices they have made in the name of this country,” Hecht said.

Today, the Memorial Union is hosting a Veteran’s Day ceremony at 2:30 p.m. in the Great Hall. Seven new names are being added to the Gold Star Hall, and the ceremony will include personal stories and photos from these veterans. The event is free and open to the public.

So, while you’re passing through Gold Star Hall today, take a moment to give thanks or, at the very least, show respect.

Take off your hat, hang up the phone, pause your conversation and give a moment of silence to the fallen soldiers.

If you don’t go to the Memorial Union today, take time to remember those who fight hard so we can have the lives we want.