“It’s somewhat cliché, but freedom’s not free, and those flags represent [7,078] souls that made the ultimate sacrifice, and I don’t think we should ever forget that,” said Long, a U.S. Air Force veteran himself. “Less than 1 percent of Americans have served in the military. Now, let that sink in: less than 1 percent. Those are the ones that gave all to serve our country and put service before self.”

The flags, planted each year the week of Veterans Day since 2002 by members of BHV, serve as a reminder to those who pass by or catch a glimpse of that sacrifice made. 

A registered student organization (RSO) and the official Student Veterans of America chapter at UD, BHV connects veterans of the Armed Forces, Armed Forces Reserve and the Armed Forces Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) and their families through fostering a sense of community on campus. This September, the University was again recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the “Best Colleges for Veterans” for 2024.

Miles Inter-Combs, president of BHV and a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, noted the importance of support systems like BHV for non-traditional students and their adjustment back into civilian life, sharing that transitioning out of the military is one of the biggest challenges many veterans face.

Thomas Gallucci, BHV vice president and another Marine Corps veteran, recently shared his experience with the transition and how the organization positively impacts student veterans in various ways, including healthcare coverage advocacy. 

While delivering introductory remarks for Maryanne T. Donaghy, the event’s special guest, Inter-Combs shared that interfacing with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) often comes with daunting and intimidating challenges.

Donaghy, who currently leads VA’s Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection (OAWP) as assistant secretary, realizes how overwhelming the experience must feel while respecting that she, a civilian herself, won’t understand it completely.

“When the Blue Hen Vets first reached out to me about speaking today, I was both humbled and a little unsettled,” she said. “I am not a veteran. This day is not mine, and I wondered if I could do tribute to the men and women represented by the [7,078] flags set out across this beautiful Green, without having served myself.” 

She continued, “But, I am a mother, a daughter and a daughter-in-law of veterans, and through my time at the VA, I’ve been privileged to have seen, up close and personal, the efforts and struggles of our country to meet its most sacred obligation to care for the men and women who have served.”

This unique perspective guides Donaghy in her role at OAWP through its purpose of promoting and improving accountability within the VA through the receipt and investigation of misconduct and whistleblower retaliation allegations for those in supervisory and leadership positions. 

Before OAWP, Donaghy served as a senior advisor at the Biden Institute, working on policy and programming for student veterans and supporting victims of gender-based violence. 

During her time as a federal prosecutor in the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and Delaware, she worked to build effective compliance programs, including Title IX implementation, for various organizations and also represented several veterans along the way.

Through these experiences, Donaghy has become a fierce advocate for veterans but makes clear the importance of remembering the partners and loved ones that make up military families. She believes they’ve all served in their own way, extending a thank you to them all.

“Today, however, I’d like to go further and challenge all of us who have not served to think about what, exactly, we are thanking someone for,” she said. “For veterans, commitment to service is hardwired and then nurtured by the skills that are embedded from the first day of boot camp: hard work, resilience, selflessness, a willingness to put a fellow human being first in the face of great personal risk.”

When it comes to supporting veterans and their families, Donaghy believes it’s all about seeing things from their perspective as best as possible.

“Many of us — me included — love to click on the videos that set up surprise returns home from deployment. What those videos don’t show, however, are the everyday challenges that make homecoming so emotionally seminal,” she said. “We may think about holidays and birthdays missed. But, also, take a minute and really think. Think about the 4-year-old who does not understand that Mom was here last week but not this week, or what it’s like to parent a teenager going through difficult, formative challenges but on your own.”

Behind the flag displays, the uniforms and the welcome home celebrations are human experiences and struggles that deserve space on Veterans Day.

“There is tremendous power in simple recognition and understanding, by the citizens of our nation, of the service of veterans and their families and the character that it takes,” Donaghy said.

Thomas Gallucci, BHV vice president and another Marine Corps veteran, recently shared his experience with the transition and how the organization positively impacts student veterans in various ways, including healthcare coverage advocacy. 

Resources and Support for UD’s Veterans

The University of Delaware understands the commitment and sacrifices military members and their families make during their time of service. Staff and faculty at the University are committed to helping student veterans and military service members in their transition from military to college life. Visit the Student Veterans web page for more information.