Golden West College on Tuesday officially unveiled its first dedicated space for returning veterans, a resource the campus hasn't seen since the Vietnam War.
The college held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its Veterans Resource Center, a place for returning servicemen and women to get help transitioning into and navigating the community college bureaucracy.
College and district officials were joined by veterans old and young on the college's quad for an opening ceremony as the sun drifted behind a building.
The attendees, and a smattering of students who stood on the grass looking on, were cast into a cool shadow as a female vocal troupe sang two of the Andrews Sisters hits before the police academy's color guard held a presentation of the flags.
As a chill set over the ceremony, emotions ran high for some as they spoke about the sacrifice veterans make and what society owes those who make that sacrifice.