Over 20 ROTC cadets from SDSU and Dakota State University recently took part in a vigil at the Brookings County Veterans Memorial Park to honor those who served in the nation’s armed forces. 

The 24-hour vigil started at 11 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 10. Two cadets stood watch at the Memorial on the west side of town until Monday morning – Veterans Day – at 11 a.m. These cadets are a part of Arnold Air Society, also known as AAS. 

The cadets each served at least one two-hour shift, according to Victoria Morris, the AAS Squadron Commander and an SDSU junior majoring in sports and recreation management. 

Cadets taking part in the vigil also had to make personnel changes every 15 minutes because of the cold. The Brookings Police Department provided a heated trailer, allowing cadets who were on break to stay warm. 

This year marks more than 30 years of Air Force ROTC standing guard at the memorial, according to Milee Young, an SDSU senior majoring in agricultural communications. 

The AAS cadets also volunteer for the POW/MIA run, a highway clean-up and a pancake feed. Plus, each candidate class has their own service project, according to Orion Theel, an SDSU sophomore majoring in aviation. 

For Eli Otten, a sophomore majoring in construction management, it was his second year doing the vigil. 

 “It’s a great time,” he said. 

The vigil was put on by the Bernie V. Guthrie Squadron of AAS, which is a professional development, community service, and educational-focused club inside of the Air Force ROTC program. The program helps build the future officers of the Air Force. 

AAS gained its charter at SDSU in 1951, meaning the organization has been on campus for over 73 years. 

For more information about joining the Air Force ROTC, contact Capt. Mark Donahue at [email protected] or by stopping into his office in DePuy Military Hall, Room 109.