Stanford Veterans Day Celebration Highlights Military's Role in Protecting Democracy
In an era when democratic institutions face unprecedented challenges, Stanford University and Palo Alto's joint Veterans Day celebration offered a powerful reminder of how military service connects to broader questions of civil rights, diversity, and democratic progress.
Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice delivered the keynote address at the fourth annual event, emphasizing how America's military strength comes not from technology alone, but from its diverse human composition. Speaking at the Hoover Institution's Traitel Welcoming Pavilion, Rice painted a picture of armed forces that reflect the nation's multicultural reality.
Military as Mirror of American Diversity
"What I saw was these extraordinary human beings, these extraordinary patriots who had taken up arms to defend us," Rice said, drawing from her experience visiting military bases as National Security Adviser and Secretary of State. Her observation carries particular weight in today's polarized climate, where questions of inclusion and representation dominate public discourse.
Rice described the military as composed of people "from all over the country, all colors, all shades and sizes, all heritages, all experiences." This framing aligns with progressive values while acknowledging the military's role as one of America's most successfully integrated institutions.
The celebration, hosted at the Hoover Institution, brought together over 1,100 Palo Alto veterans and 36 undergraduate plus 100 graduate student veterans currently at Stanford. The diverse attendance included Ernestine Faxon, a 102-year-old Navy veteran who served in World War II, and Vietnam War Marine veteran Manny Velasco, who received a quilt of valor from the South Bay Blue Star Moms.
Democracy and Service: A Personal Reflection
Rice's most compelling moment came when she reflected on her own journey from the segregated South to the highest levels of government. "Here is this Black woman, child of the segregated South, and she's taking an oath of office to defend the Constitution of America, which once counted her ancestors as three-fifths of a man," she said.
This personal narrative illustrates what Rice calls the American collective story: "Progress together, progress through our institutions, progress because we keep an eye not just on who we were and who we are, but who we want to be."
Her words resonate particularly strongly given current debates about systemic racism, institutional reform, and the ongoing struggle for true equality. Rice positioned military service as both protecting and enabling this democratic evolution.
Civic Responsibility in Action
Michele Rasmussen, Stanford's vice provost for student affairs, called on the community to remember that American liberties exist "because they stepped up." This message of civic responsibility extends beyond military service to broader questions of citizen engagement and democratic participation.
The celebration's format itself, with first-year undergraduate and Air Force veteran Zach Wright serving as master of ceremonies, demonstrated how military experience enriches civilian institutions and democratic discourse.
As democratic norms face pressure both domestically and internationally, events like Stanford's Veterans Day celebration serve as important reminders of the human commitment required to maintain free societies. Rice's emphasis on the military as a diverse, inclusive force protecting democratic values offers a counter-narrative to divisive rhetoric about American institutions.
The evening concluded with a clear message: in an interconnected world where democracy cannot be taken for granted, honoring those who serve means recommitting to the inclusive, progressive values that make such service meaningful.