Veterans Day is a reminder to acknowledge and honor those who have dedicated themselves to service, but the day carries a deeper meaning to Manhattan, the home of Fort Riley.
At Manhattan High School, a multitude of veterans have continued to dedicate their lives to supporting the community, where they carry their experience in uniform to the classroom. Among the many that have served in our school are four staff members who continue to influence the culture and community — administrator Lisa Julian, who started her career serving in the Air Force; nurse Angela Bird, who served in the US Army Nurse Corps; teacher Doug Andresen, who served in the US Arm;y and DeShawn Fogle, who served in the Air Force.
“In high school, I never imagined joining the military,” Julian said.
Julian’s story started in a place of uncertainty — she found herself with no stable way to obtain further education past high school, until a bright option appeared before her. Like a hand reaching out, recruiters noticed her high ASVAB score and told her that she could get the education she wanted and see the world.
“I learned not to be selfish, to think about others and be of service,” Julian said.
During Julian’s 11 years of work in the Air Force, a sense of selflessness was born. Following the three Core Values of the Air Force, Julian found her ground in the foundational values of “Integrity First,” “Service Before Self,” and “Excellence in All We Do” — lessons that were enforced in the fact that it was all-or-nothing, succeed or fail together. Moments empowered this found footing, like the vignettes of natural camaraderie that manifested itself in cheers of encouragement during difficult physical tests.
“There wasn’t a straight path,” Julian said. “Early in my teaching career, I didn’t want to be an administrator, but my military background shaped my beliefs and gave me skills I rely on every day.”
From a place of poverty, Julian saw things and places that she could only imagine, from bases in California, England, Hawaii and New Mexico, the firm guidance that she faced in the Air Force gave her the ability to molt and come out of service as an experienced adult — able to face a crisis with a level head.
Julian’s story highlights how service is an opportunity that changes lives, while Bird’s includes how service can bring people together and how desperate times can inspire patriotism and action.
“I felt that I wanted to do something bigger and better with my life,” Bird said.
Her calling became apparent in the midst of her education in nursing school. The national call for nurses and medical personnel during the aftermath of Sept. 11 inspired Bird to bring a more meaningful purpose to her life. After her graduation from medical school, she served where she was needed most, the Army Nurse Corps.
“I never would have met them if it wasn’t for my calling to join,” Bird said.
While serving across the country, Bird met people from all over the world and was surrounded by the different cultures of others, broadening her perspectives, but they were all brought together because of the same mission. As Bird was stationed in Hawaii, she met her husband — if not for her calling — their paths would have never crossed.
The idea to commit to service comes from many different reasons, for Bird, it was necessity and the need to make a ripple that reached beyond herself. Sometimes it comes from lineage.
“Do it for the right reasons. Do it because you want to,” Andresen said. “If you don’t want to be in the military, then you won’t survive in the military. You need to be wanting to be there.”
Andresen joined their respective branches from a legacy of military service, following the footsteps of family. Andresen knew from a young age that he wanted to dedicate his life to duty, from the age of six. His conviction developed into a strong foundational sternness and no-nonsense philosophy, where he showcased his leadership as an Army Officer and now as a disciplined teacher. Though Andresen is direct, his approach to others isn’t without its own wholesome values.
“Leadership’s huge,” Andresen said. “I was an officer, so that’s all we did, was learn leadership [and] lead people… The community piece is just trying to make the community better. That’s what the military always does. Try to make whatever unit you go to better than it was when you first got there.”
The difference between the military and the high school is stark, with general demographics and ethics. Andresen had to adopt a different work ethic for his job as teacher, but something not too far away from his mission-oriented values. For Fogle — as a counselor for the juniors of this year — he had to adjust to the way that students operate and understand the mentality behind teenagers.
“The whole lesson about not sweating stuff and being able to prioritize what’s important and what’s not has helped me communicate with students and to help them work on their own issues and the things that they’re dealing with,” Fogle said.
Fogle also had roots in military service, watching the valor of his military family as he grew up, it led to him ultimately joining the Air Force to uphold those same values. The discipline that was instilled in Fogle as he switched from being a part of a military family to actual active duty became a cornerstone of his 12 and a half years in service. The lessons that were taught to him served as guidance as he navigated through his time and his skill became apparent in his abilities to defuse situations in his later years of service.
“My last job in the military,” Fogle said. “I was in charge of an office, and there were a lot of times I had to deconflict some disputes between my co-workers, and when one of them walked in and said, ‘You know, you do a really good job of doing that. Being a counselor might be something you look into once you’re done with the military.’”
What brought these four to continue their path of service, beyond the military? Their reasons stem from the lessons and experience they gained during their careers, the pressures that they had to overcome and inspiration that struck from who they met.
“My mentor at the academy, she was a lieutenant colonel and she was an amazing professor,” Andresen said. “I wanted to be something in the educational field once I retired.”
The stories of these four valiant veterans showcase the life-changing commitment that is military service and how it reveals the selfless sides of people.
“It takes someone very brave to join the military,” Bird said. “With all of the unknowns that you’re going to face over your career. [You’re] leaving behind your comfort and your family, and it really is a selfless job.”
To commit to military service, you need to have the willingness to be greater than yourself, learn the meaning of sacrifice, have the soul to lead and enlist with an open mind to learn.
“I would tell them to choose the service wisely,” Fogle said. “Not all services are the same. And just understand that, you know once, once you do those things, now you belong to something bigger than, than you’ve ever been a part of before. And just be prepared for that change.”
