Fighting for What's Behind Them: MCC Recognizes Veterans

When George Lisicki was national commander of the VFW, he sat down twice with former president George W. Bush to discuss the GI Bill that would ultimately make higher educational affordable for servicemen and women. 

Bush did not want to sign the bill, Lisicki said, because his advisors cautioned that it could result in a mass exodus from the armed forces. 

Lisicki disagreed, and argued that the bill would result in young men and women joining the military to serve the country and go to college, a choice that may not have been an option for them otherwise. 

Since that time, the bill's promised benefits have become a reality for one million servicemen and women in pursuit of higher education. 

The millionth veteran to sign it was Steven Ferraro, a Middlesex County College student, a milestone Lisicki said was a "great honor" for the college. 

On Tuesday, Lisicki, who is also a member of the Middlesex County College Board of Trustees was one of two featured speakers at a Veterans Day observance at Middlesex County College.

He was joined by Army veteran and motivational speaker and author Mike Miller.

Affordable education is not the only issue facing veterans and their families, Lisicki said. Healthcare is also a crucial topic for those serving the country.

To that end, he urged veterans to stick together and concentrate their efforts to ensure that they would get the support they need in return for their service. 

"Our legislators listen as long as you have numbers," Lisicki said.

Miller, a retired Army captain and combat veteran of the Gulf War, stressed the importance of the bond between those in the armed forces, especially among those who have seen combat.

On the battlefield, a marine or soldier under fire isn't "thinking about the Constitution," Miller said. 

He's thinking of the people who have his back all around him, he said.

The goal of enlisting isn't to go out and kill, Miller said. It's to protect, do a duty and and ultimately return home. 

"They fight because they love what's behind them," he said. 

Lisicki said that kind of service and sacrifice should be recognized daily, not just on a holiday like Veterans Day. 

"Our veterans love America," he said. "America needs to love our veterans."