Student Wayne Rogers pays homage to veterans through the ages
by Jennifer Truesdale
If you’re among the millions of Americans who watched the World Series the last two weeks of October, you probably noticed that Major League Baseball honored active-duty military members and veterans at each game. A service member even sang “God Bless America”each night during the seventh inning stretch.
The longstanding connection between the military and baseball is of no surprise to Columbia College student and National Park Service Ranger Wayne Rogers.


“Soldiers are soldiers. The game of war never changes. Only the toys with which you play it do.”Until June you could find Rogers clad in Civil War-era wool uniforms, both Union and Confederate depending on the day, roaming the grounds of the park, educating tourists, military groups and Boy Scout troops through exhibitions and re-enactments. Adept at weapons demonstrations, Rogers can routinely load three volleys per minute using a single-shot musket.
Rogers served in Operation Iraqi Freedom with the 1st Armor Brigade Combat Team, Third Infantry Division. He was stationed at Fort Stewart, Ga., where he began taking classes at the Columbia College campus there, as well as through the Online Campus. He is nearing completion of his associate degree in general studies, but with passion for the subject, hasn’t dismissed the idea of one day pursuing a bachelor’s in history.

In June Rogers, along with his wife and two sons, moved to the Philadelphia area where he grew up. Continuing classes through the Online Campus, Rogers spent most of his summer as a ranger at Valley Forge National Park, where he stepped even further back in time to the Revolutionary War, trading his Civil War rifled musket for an earlier modeled flintlock musket.

Though temporarily furloughed due to the federal government shutdown, Rogers enjoyed his time at Valley Forge, which will come to a close at the conclusion of Veterans Day activities on Nov. 11. Rogers will participate in a commemoration program, which will include guest speakers and unite veterans with a group of new military recruits on their way to basic training who will complete their swearing in at the event. Following the event, park rangers will participate in a living history exhibit with representatives of each American war presenting artifacts and gear specific to the era.
Rogers will don his Operation Iraqi Freedom gear for the exhibit.

“Working at Independence Hall is stepping out of my comfort zone of military history, but I hope to revive their historic weapons program from the French-Indian War to the Civil War.”
Rogers is just the man to do it. As a veteran who has served overseas, Rogers continues to serve the country as a time traveler, reminding us of a rich history of nearly two hundred years of veterans who have served the country.
On November 11 and throughout the first two weeks of November, people across the country will celebrate the efforts and sacrifices of our veterans.
For Columbia College students, recognition will take place at the main campus and at our Nationwide Campuses as well. Events include:
Main campus
Decoration of Bass Commons with dozens of American flags placed around the lawn, and yellow ribbons tied in bows around tree trunks.
All campuses
Throughout the week, students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends will write notes to local veterans. Many people also will send Columbia College- and Veterans Day-themed e-cards, thanking veterans for their service.
2 comments:
This article could not make a Father prouder...I am William P. Rogers, father of Wayne..I have enjoyed many times watching my son show and tell his knowledge of civil war history. Just for your info both his sister Crissy and myself are also Veterans...Me, 20 years US Navy and his sister is also US Army.
I thought it was a good article, maybe a little to much with the baseball analogy. I'm a Army Veteran and any time we honor our veterans it is well desreved.
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