Military Veteran Emphasizes Service, Community, and Unity in Veterans Day Speech at UA Little Rock

In his Veterans Day message Wednesday, Col. William B. Phillips II challenged University of Arkansas at Little Rock students, faculty, and staff — and the larger Little Rock community — to honor the sacrifices of veterans by “becoming better versions of ourselves” and making the world a better place. 

One doesn’t necessarily need to wear a uniform to make a difference; rather, “we can all be catalysts for change” simply by standing up for what is right and serving one’s community, said Phillips, the strategic communications director for the Arkansas National Guard. “Service is an honor, but carries with it a duty to make things better, and standing up for what’s right sometimes requires risk.” 

UA Little Rock students Corey Jewell, a sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, and Carlos Chavarria, a corporal in the Marine Corps Reserve, attended Wednesday’s ceremony on campus and concur with Phillips regarding community service.

“Doing your part is a great way to show support” for veterans and fellow citizens, said Chavarria, in his first semester at UA Little Rock studying computer engineering.

“It’s important to be part of a group, not just an individual,” and connect with one’s community, said Jewell, who began his biology studies at UA Little Rock last year. “Be involved and help develop your community.”

Jewell, who has been in the military for more than five years, wants to attend medical school so he can continue to serve his fellow citizens, and UA Little Rock has been a perfect place for his educational needs.

Professors understand that his military service is a time commitment, as is his job at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), so they are flexible in working with him on assignments and other academic work, he said. In addition, the Military Student Success Center — which serves over 700 active-duty, reservists, National Guard members, veterans, and their family members — quickly answers questions and is “a really good service.” 

Chavarria and Jewell are also glad the university observes Veterans Day with an annual ceremony. 

“Veterans Day is important for our country,” Jewell said. “We need to remember veterans and their sacrifice.” 

UA Little Rock’s annual Veterans Day ceremony recognizes the dedication, service, and sacrifice of veterans and active-duty military personnel. It’s an opportunity for the campus community to come together in appreciation of those who have served. UA Little Rock is also a Purple Heart University, which signifies the university’s recognition and honor of veterans who were wounded in combat while serving their country and are now pursuing higher education and careers at UA Little Rock.

Phillips — who resides in Little Rock with his family, enlisted in the United States Army in 1991, attended Accelerated Officer Candidate School through the Georgia Military Institute, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant of infantry in 2003 — is a link in a long chain of military service: his father, a trailblazer, joined the U.S. Army in 1959, his stepfather was one of the vaunted Tuskegee Airmen, his wife and brother are both veterans, and his son now serves in the Air National Guard in Arkansas. 

Veterans Day “reminds us of the sacrifice” of veterans, but also the ideals they have fought for, and continue to fight for, said Phillips, a member of the Enlisted Association of the Arkansas National Guard, National Guard Association of Arkansas, National Infantry Association, United States Cavalry and Armor Association, Army War College Alumni Association, The ROCKS, Inc., and Military Officers Association of America. “There’s still work to do.” 

Phillips served in key leadership positions from platoon to brigade levels, including infantry platoon leader, legislative liaison, commander of 1st Battalion, 153rd Infantry Regiment, state public affairs officer/communications director, deputy G1, and deputy J3. He’s received myriad awards and decorations, including the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, National Infantry Association Order of Saint Maurice (Centurion), and the United States Cavalry and Armor Association Order of Saint George, Bronze Award.

While serving during the Iraq War, “every patrol, we made a point to do something good for someone who wasn’t us, (because) we all share a common humanity,” and that sense of shared community is all the more critical now, when a quarter of the globe lives in areas beset by conflict, Phillips noted. “People are united by courage and can change history.”