Each year on November 11, Americans pause to honor the courage, sacrifice and dedication of the men and women who have worn our nation’s uniform. Veterans Day stands as a time to recognize not only those who gave their lives in service, but also the millions of veterans who continue to embody the values they defended. For Travis Snyder, military admissions representative at Davenport University and a veteran himself, the day has personal meaning.  This year he took a moment to reflect and share his perspective with the Davenport community.

 

“You don’t have to wear a uniform to carry the spirit of service forward.”  – Travis Snyder, Davenport military admissions

 

I had the honor of serving in the United States Marine Corps from 2012 to 2018 as an infantry rifleman. In the fall of 2017, my unit and I deployed to Afghanistan, where we were tasked with the mission to train, advise and assist Afghan military and police forces as they fought against Taliban insurgents.

On Veterans Day, I’m reminded of how much meaning that simple word — service — can hold.

When most people think of Veterans Day, they might picture a parade, a flag, or maybe even that free steak dinner from Applebee’s. But for the many who have had the privilege of putting on the uniform, the meaning is something much deeper. This day is a day to pause, to commemorate and remember the men and women who raised their right hand and said, “Send me.”  Folks from every background, every corner of the United States, came together to fulfill one common purpose — to protect and attend to a calling bigger than themselves.

Ask any veteran that you converse with, what it is they miss most about their time in service, and dang-near all of them will tell you the same thing. It won’t be the deployments, the uniform, the fun toys we played with, or even the paycheck.

It’ll be the people. The camaraderie. The moments when we were going through “it” together and reminding ourselves and one another why we signed the dotted line … it was for those who were to the right and left of us, and for those back home. It’s about that deep bond that forms when you share hardship, laughter, and even fear together. It’s a kind of trust and unity that’s hard to find anywhere else.

Today, I am grateful for the generations of men and women who served our country, took heed to the calling and said “send me.” Because of their sacrifice, and willingness to go where called, you and I are blessed to enjoy so many freedoms today.

And that’s one of the lessons I hope to share with you: that spirit of brotherhood — or sisterhood — doesn’t have to exist only in the military. You can build it in your own lives, right here and now. Whether it’s your classmates, teammates, your family back home or your community, the same principles apply: look out for one another, lift each other up, be a source of encouragement, and don’t be afraid to serve something greater than yourself.

Veterans Day isn’t just about saying thank you to those who served — though that’s always appreciated. It’s also about understanding why they served. Every generation of Americans has been blessed with incredible human beings willing to step up, to defend the freedoms that make our lives possible — the freedom to learn, to speak, to dream and to pursue a better future.

You don’t have to wear a uniform to carry that spirit of service forward. You can serve those around you simply by living with purpose — by helping others, standing up for what’s right, and making a difference wherever you are.

If there’s one thing I’d want you to take away from Veterans Day, it’s this: freedom isn’t just defended on distant battlefields — it’s preserved in how we treat each other here at home. The respect, the unity, and the compassion you show every day are what keep our fine country tenacious, vigorous and mighty.

So when you see a veteran, I want to thank you for taking a moment to thank them, and for taking a moment to have a conversation with them. I also want to encourage you to take a moment to reflect on how you can honor that service in your own lives.

On behalf of all my brothers and sisters in arms, thank you for remembering us today — and for caring enough to listen, to learn, and to live with purpose.

Semper Fidelis— and God bless the United States of America.

 

For the 2025-2026 academic year, Davenport University was once again certified as a Gold-Level Veteran-Friendly School by the State of Michigan’s Veteran-Friendly Schools Program.

For information on veterans benefits at Davenport and ways to receive academic credit for military experience, visit Davenport.edu/military.