SU Honors Troops in Operation Iraqi Freedom

Last Friday, a prayer vigil was held at Southern University to honor the 38 students who were deployed to Iraq to serve in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Starting last semester, students have been called on a continual basis.
“This is the largest call for the reserve since the World War II,” said Lt. Col. Les Broadway.
Dale Flowers, chief of the Southern University Police Department, prayed for the students at war before a yellow ribbon ceremony.
“Their education is disturbed and their lives are in danger…I feel very proud and very worried, this is our way to show it,” said SU Chancellor Edward Jackson.
Care packages will be sent to the SU armed forces troops three times this semester, compliments of the Southern University Housing Department, Bookstore, and food will be sent from ARAMARK.
Southern University hopes the students will receive the packages which will include a letter of support from Chancellor Jackson, dry goods, personal items, a Southern University T-shirt and copies of The Digest, by next week.
The war is a sensitive issue for some students such as Kaleisha Nelson, a senior education major from New Roads. Nelson’s boyfriend is now in Baghdad.
“You don’t want to think of your friends in a bad situation, so I try not to think about them because you don’t know if they are coming back or not,” said Nelson.
According to Broadway when troops are called, they have already been trained in their field of specialty and they can be called within days or months notice, according to the need.
“They volunteered and have trained experience. They are making a way to preserve and protect our way of life,” said Broadway.
The students called were Donald Baltazar, Erica Dortch, Atia Fisher, Keshana M. Johnson, Sheneka M.Johnson, Frederick McNabb, Benita Nwokolo, Anita D. Spears, Nicholas L. White, Valerie L. Barrow, Frank L. Carter, Andrew W. Charles (Southern University’s mascot), Robert Combs, David J.C.Curtis, Joseph Daniels, Roderick S.Daniels, Astria D. Franklin, Kelly J. Geyen, Charles J. Goodwin, A.J. Griffin (Digest Reporter), Robert P. Hampton, Theo B. Holt, Donald C. Hooper, Tina M. Jackson, Reina Johnson, Quention E. Lee, Shekietra Lockhart, Jason D. Matthews, Gabriel F. Musitful, Marlon M. Nobles, Sean P. Ricard, Milton Ross, Jr., Brandon J. Russell, Anthony Smith, Antonio Stephens, Anita Washington, Ivan D. William, and Jermine C.Williams.
Those interested in providing donations or contributions to the care packages should call the SU Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Raymond Downs at 225-771-5280.