Each American flag surrounding Summerall Field this Veterans Day honors a veteran or active-duty service member. Together, they help fund support for veterans studying at The Citadel.

Now in its second year, Flags for Heroes allows supporters to dedicate a flag to someone who has served, whether or not that person attended The Citadel. All proceeds go to the college’s Veteran Student Success Center, or VSSC.

“We want our veteran students to be able to focus on their education,” said Sally Levitt, director of the VSSC. “If a question about benefits or an unexpected expense is getting in the way, we’re here to help. When someone sponsors a flag, they’re honoring a service member and helping us support the students who come through our doors.”

The VSSC is marking its first year in its new home on Huger Street. Veteran and active-duty students can stop in to study, relax or get help with their VA education benefits. The center also gives them a place to meet other students who share a military background.

A free food pantry, stocked in partnership with the Lowcountry Food Bank, helps students with grocery expenses. Professional clothing, school supplies and other necessities are available, along with loaner laptops and calculators that can spare students the cost of buying equipment for their classes.

For eligible veteran students facing a financial emergency, the Veteran Emergency Relief Fund offers up to $1,000 in assistance. The fund can help cover food, rent or medical bills during a one-time emergency that could otherwise disrupt a student’s education.

Students preparing for careers after graduation can participate in the VSSC’s mentorship program, which pairs veteran and active-duty students with members of the Charleston community whose professional experience and interests align with their own.

The Citadel Student Veterans Association offers additional opportunities to get involved. Through meetings, social events, networking and leadership opportunities, the organization connects veterans, active-duty and other military-affiliated students across campus.

Flag sponsorships help support the center’s work throughout the year, giving those who dedicate a flag a way to recognize someone’s service and contribute to another veteran’s education.

To learn more about the Veteran Student Success Center and its resources, click here.

This year’s flags honor:

Michael Joseph Annetta

CMSgt Jorge Arce

Jim Baker, USA

Stephen Banko

In memory of Robert Barbaglia, USMC

LCDR Edward C. Barnes

Todd Baxter, ’85

Scott Biever, ’85

John J. Biram

Elmer Ralph Blanchard

Alton John Boutté Jr.

Wilfred P. Brandes

Samuel Bright

Lt. Col. Vincent L. Bristow, USAF (Ret.)

Dayton Buchanan

LTC. Charles H. Buehring, ’85

Capt. Justin M. Bussard

Allen Buzon

Jack Buzon

James Buzon

Joseph Buzon

Col. Dennis Carpenter

Col. John E. Carr, III

Lieutenant Commander Gerald J. Carroll, USN (Ret.)

J. L. Chavis

CMSgt (RET) Karen Chisolm

Aaron L. Clark

Dean Coldren

George Franklin Coleman, Jr

Dennis Courtright

L. C. Cruse

Bryan Dailey

Teresa Dailey

David Dalyrimple

Lloyd T. Darr

Kyle Davidson

In honor of Connor Davis, USN

In honor of Glenn Davis, USAF

In honor of Mark Davis, USA

In honor of Christopher DeArmond

In honor of Msgt Elizabeth DeArmond (Ret. USAF)*

In honor of MSgt Peter DeArmond (Ret. USAF)*

In honor of Peter DeArmond (USCG)*

Jesse Dell’Arciprete

In honor of 1st Lt. Robert DeMarre, USAF, PB22

Robert Derenda, ’85

MAJ Megan DiFurio

Charles K. Douglas

Cpl. Michael Driggers, USMC

Charlie Duncan

Thomas M. Edison

TJ Emsley

RADM Stephen C. Evans, USN, ’86

Capt. John Farnell (USAF)

CDR Ralph H. Field, USN (Ret.)

Michael Gallagher

David A. Griffith

David J. Griffith

Dr. L. A. Griffith

Dr. L. M. Griffith

Lewie A. Griffith

LCDR Brian John Grow

Andrew Heck OANG

David Honeycutt

SSgt Juan Ibarra

In honor of Catherine E. Jans

Peter R. Jodko

John Wesley Johnson

Timothy Marc Johnson

Robert Joiner

William Robert Joiner

Matthew Jones

Philip Julian

Mike “Gonedaddy” King

In honor of James Sheldon Koozer, USAF

Frank Korich

Stephen Korich

Stanley B. Kowalski

Eric Krueger

In honor of MSG Gary Lain*

In honor of Nelson Lalli

James N. Lees

Shawn Levitt

MAJ. Mark Samuel Levy

Stanley Lewicki

Lt Col James H. Lloyd, III USAF Ret. ’72

In honor of Peter Loveitt

Daniel L. Mack

Howard Maresh, USN

Marines past, present, and future

Donald Marler

2LT Ryan Marquez, Class of ’26

SGM Jose Marquez

In memory of Theodore Masse

Mike Mateer

LTC Garrett McAdams

Tyler McCann, USA

Robert McCorkle

J. Joseph McCoy, Jr.

Lance McCuiston

Robert Wayne McGee

Walter W. Momeier, Jr. (WWII)

Gary Moore

Jimmy Moore

Robert Moore

Jerome Morris

Edward L. Morrison, Sr.

Elbert Mull

Lt. (USN) Pete Ober, ’98 Charlie Company

COL(R) Donovan Ollar

Richard Onken

John J. Papp

Zoli Papp

Cultus Pearson

Lt. Col. Jason Perdew, USMC (Ret.)

Louis Frank Pickett, USA (Ret.)

Mateo Rivera, USMC

RLTW

Caleb Rodgers

Cynthia Rodgers

Fancis Roesch, USA

Thomas Roesch, USAF (Ret.)

Ed Ryan

John C. Ryan, Sr.

CPT Matthew T. Salazar (Army Veteran)

SGT Manuel Salazar III (Army)

1st Lt. Charles Schnorf, 1981

Robert James Scott*

Lt. Gen George Seignious

Bob Simon

In honor of Lt. Col. Dawson F. Smith

LCDR Jennifer Studer, Navy (Ret.)

COL Michael Sundborg

SFC Ernest Sundborg

Earl Dean Swartzwelter

Michael T. Takach, Sr.

Dan Taylor

Ryan Taylor

1st Lt. Dan Thomas, 2001

Colin Tuley, USA

Shawna Turza

In memory of Frederick P. Villiard, Green Beret

Eddie Carlos Virola

James Walters

Everett L. Waters (WWII)

John C. Waters, Sr. (American Revolution)

Pierce K. Waters (WWI)

Col. William Ready Watson Jr.

Joseph Wethington

In memory of Bernard S. Wilga (USMC)*

In honor of David Willhoite

Don Williams

Pete Williams

1st Lt. George Yarborough, Jr., 1916

*Multiple flags purchased in their honor.